CHP Leader: Tuzla Mayor Faced Jail or AK Party Choice

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has sharply criticized the defection of Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl to the ruling AK Party. Özel asserted that Bingöl was coerced into switching parties, claiming he was presented with an ultimatum: "Either you go to jail or you join the AK Party."

Speaking to T24, Özel detailed his account, suggesting that the mayor's "chemical balance was disrupted" due to pressure, particularly concerning his young family. He implied that Bingöl is now attempting to "cover up" his decision by citing perceived injustices from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), which is led by the CHP. Özel questioned whether the IBB should have overlooked alleged "corruption by the AK Party."

Özel recalled a solution he had previously proposed: that the ministry resolve the "injustice" in Tuzla, with contractors paying their dues to settle past debts and prevent citizen hardship. Instead, he lamented, the mayor chose to join the AK Party. Özel drew a parallel to a situation in Istanbul where individuals, including a former AK Party deputy mayor now working for the CHP municipality, have not been detained despite alleged wrongdoing.

"I see this as a "caught red-handed" situation," Özel stated, adding that the mayor's move to the AK Party "confirms all suspicions" regarding the matter. He claimed to have personally witnessed the mayor's distress and heard his explanations, noting that the mayor referred to him as "like an older brother." Özel asserted that no one, including former minister Murat Kurum or the Tuzla mayor himself, could deny his account.