Prominent opposition mayor in Turkey arrested in Ankara

Erdal Besikcioglu, the mayor of Ankara's Etimesgut district and a well-known figure from the Turkish cult TV series "Behzat C.," has been arrested along with 51 other individuals. The detentions are part of ongoing corruption investigations targeting the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

State news agency Anadolu reported that police conducted raids at multiple addresses. Investigations reportedly focus on suspicions of irregularities in public tenders and document forgery. Besikcioglu, a popular actor who transitioned into politics in 2024, won the Etimesgut district for the CHP.

The arrests come at a turbulent time for the CHP. The party and its mayors are under significant pressure following their success in the 2024 local elections. Numerous opposition mayors are currently imprisoned. Former CHP leader Özgür Özel was recently removed from his post by a court and has since founded a new party, which now stands as the largest opposition bloc in parliament with 91 lawmakers. Many mayors have joined Özel's new party, while others are still deciding.