Murat Ongun warns of 'Erdoğan's' strategy, 'absolute nullity,' and election timing

Murat Ongun, Chairman of İBB Medya AŞ, has issued a warning regarding President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's alleged use of legal proceedings to influence political outcomes. Ongun suggests that Erdoğan tends to reuse successful strategies, particularly in cases involving Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the Republican People's Party (CHP).

In a video titled "Consensus Cracking," Ongun drew parallels between the "Ahmak" (Idiot) case against İmamoğlu and the "absolute nullity" case targeting the CHP's recent congress. He pointed out that both cases were decided approximately 30 months after the inciting event (İmamoğlu's election as mayor, Özgür Özel's election as CHP leader) and were initiated 18 months after the alleged actions. Ongun also noted that in both instances, a change in the presiding judge or an appeal court's intervention led to the desired verdicts.

Ongun argued that the "Ahmak" case was designed to block İmamoğlu's potential presidential candidacy, while the "absolute nullity" case aimed to leave CHP leader Özgür Özel vulnerable. He identified Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as the beneficiaries of these legal battles. The timing of the "Ahmak" case decision, six months before a past election, and the potential impact of the "absolute nullity" case decision, also six months before a future election in November 2026, were emphasized.

"There are plenty of signs for six months from now," Ongun stated, urging that "all strategies should be made as if it were six months until the elections." He cautioned that voters dislike last-minute changes in candidates or parties and that politicians typically do not grant opponents 20 months to recover after being legally sidelined. Instead, he suggested, they prefer to deliver a final blow.