Istanbul Bar Association Elections: Ümit Kocasakal Nominated by New 'Republican Power Union' Alliance

Ahead of the Istanbul Bar Association elections scheduled for October 2026, a significant political alliance has emerged. Three prominent legal groups, Önce İlke Çağdaş Avukatlar Grubu, Önce Avukat Grubu, and İstanbul Milliyetçi Avukatlar Grubu (İMAG), have joined forces to establish a new coalition named the "Republican Power Union."

The coalition announced that former Istanbul Bar Association President, Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocasakal, has been chosen as their "umbrella candidate" for the Bar Presidency. Key figures behind this alliance include previous presidential candidates Av. Ali Gürbüz (Önce İlke Çağdaş Avukatlar Grubu), Av. Elif Görgülü (Önce Avukat Grubu), and Av. Hakan Çatak (İMAG).

Operating under the slogan "Country and Republic First, Rule of Law First. Strong Bar and Respected Lawyers Again," the Republican Power Union issued a statement warning of severe threats to the republic's founding values, constitutional principles, and fundamental rights and freedoms. They emphasized that it is a historic duty for those who align with Atatürk's principles, support the country's unitary structure, and uphold the nation-state to set aside personal ambitions and unite.

The groups stressed that they are uniting while preserving their individual institutional structures and identities. The official announcement of Ümit Kocasakal's candidacy is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 11:30 AM at the Istanbul Bar Association's Galata Service Building. The Republican Power Union has extended an invitation to all colleagues who share similar concerns to attend and support this event.