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Turkey's Democracy Crisis Now a Security Crisis, Says CHP Chairman Özel in Newsweek Op-Ed
🇹🇷 Turkey /Elections & Politics

Turkey's Democracy Crisis Now a Security Crisis, Says CHP Chairman Özel in Newsweek Op-Ed

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • CHP Chairman Özgür Özel wrote for Newsweek, stating Turkey's democracy crisis has become a security crisis affecting Europe, NATO, and the Middle East.
  • Özel argues the current government is trying to eliminate the last democratic alternative and increase pressure on the opposition, especially after the CHP's local election success.
  • He criticizes the legal actions against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other CHP officials, viewing them as politically motivated attempts to control the main opposition party.

The crisis of democracy in Turkey has escalated into a security threat impacting Europe, NATO, and the Middle East, according to Özgür Özel, the elected Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP). In an article for Newsweek, Özel asserted that the issue extends beyond domestic politics and human rights, posing broader geopolitical risks.

The democracy crisis in Turkey has now turned into a security crisis.

— Özgür ÖzelIn his article for Newsweek, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel stated that Turkey's internal democracy issues have broader security implications.

Özel contends that the ruling AK Party administration is consolidating control over state apparatus and actively working to dismantle the country's last significant democratic alternative. He highlighted growing economic hardship, social unrest, and a loss of public trust in institutions, exacerbated by increased pressure on the opposition following the CHP's success in the 2024 local elections.

The ruling party is trying to eliminate the last meaningful democratic alternative.

— Özgür ÖzelÖzel accused the government of increasing pressure on the opposition, particularly after the CHP's local election victories.

The CHP leader specifically criticized the legal proceedings against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whom he described as the presidential candidate and Erdoğan's strongest rival. Özel alleged that İmamoğlu's arrest in March 2025 was politically motivated. He also pointed to the detention of approximately 20 CHP mayors and hundreds of officials without definitive convictions since 2025, and the recent court decision to nullify the CHP's 2023 convention, which he believes aims to place the party under judicial control.

Our presidential candidate and Erdoğan's strongest rival was imprisoned for political reasons.

— Özgür ÖzelHe referred to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's legal troubles, asserting they were politically motivated.

Özel warned that if democratic channels for peaceful change are blocked, political anger will accumulate and potentially erupt. He stated that Erdoğan's efforts to eliminate opposition could lead to profound social discontent, a severe legitimacy crisis, and a lack of institutional mechanisms for citizens to express their desire for peaceful change, a situation unprecedented in modern Turkish history.

If democratic paths are closed, anger will build up.

— Özgür ÖzelÖzel cautioned about the potential consequences of suppressing opposition and blocking peaceful political change in Turkey.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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