Nationalist leader Bahceli slams Imamoglu, CHP over expanding Istanbul probe
Turkiye's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli makes a speech during his party's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, Turkiye on January 07, 2025. (AA Photo)
Devlet Bahceli, leader of Türkiye’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), issued a sharply worded written statement Monday, denouncing former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in light of an expanding corruption and bribery investigation involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB).
Bahceli alleged Imamoglu oversaw a “deeply rooted and terrifying bribery network,” dating back to his tenure as mayor of Beylikduzu, a district in western Istanbul.
The claims center on the alleged exchange of zoning permits, occupancy licenses, and construction approvals for financial gain.
He cited testimony from cooperating witnesses, including developers and former municipal officials, who reportedly detailed how municipal decisions were manipulated through covert negotiations, some of which allegedly took place in luxury hotels.
Bahceli claimed that participants in the network used signal jammers to evade electronic surveillance and actively covered their tracks.
The stench of corruption is unbearable. This is not just a case of isolated misconduct — it’s the architecture of organized deceit, extending from the district level to the heart of Istanbul’s city administration.
Devlet Bahceli, leader of Türkiye’s Nationalist Movement Party
Accusations against the CHP
Bahceli also directed fierce criticism at CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel, accusing him of shielding those implicated in the probe and undermining judicial proceedings by politicizing the investigation.
“The CHP has devolved into a party of provocation,” Bahceli stated. “Its leadership is under heavy suspicion and can no longer claim moral authority in Türkiye’s politics.”
He further claimed the opposition was attempting to manipulate public opinion and distract from what he described as the “systematic rot” within the party’s local governance structures.
Key themes in Bahceli’s statement
Bahceli’s wide-ranging comments linked the Istanbul investigation to broader national and international challenges, reinforcing the government’s political narrative ahead of potential early elections.
- Corruption and municipal governance:
Central to Bahceli’s statement was the IBB corruption probe, which he said had already resulted in dozens of detentions on charges, including bribery, bid rigging, and money laundering. He accused the CHP of spreading misinformation and pressuring the judiciary to block the investigation. - Terrorism and national security:
The MHP leader accused opposition figures of undermining Türkiye’s fight against terrorism. He criticized Ozel for defending Esenyurt’s former CHP mayor, who was recently imprisoned, claiming such actions embolden separatist movements. - Gaza and foreign policy:
Bahceli reiterated his condemnation of Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza, describing them as “genocide.” He warned of international complicity and accused Western powers of supporting Kurdish armed groups in Syria, calling for the immediate disarmament of the PKK and its affiliates. - Internal stability and the economy:
Responding to recent street protests and economic discontent, Bahceli argued that Türkiye had overcome the worst of its financial difficulties. He warned against attempts to weaponize economic issues for political unrest. - Earthquake preparedness and urban renewal:
In the wake of a recent 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the Marmara region, Bahceli emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive urban renewal plan in Istanbul. He accused opposition leaders of stalling critical infrastructure projects for political gain.
‘We will not abandon Istanbul’
Rejecting suggestions from some urban planners that parts of Istanbul may need to be evacuated because of earthquake risk, Bahceli declared, “We will not give up a single stone of Istanbul—a city sanctified with our blood and sacrifice. Those who talk of abandoning it are betraying its soul.”
His remarks reflect intensifying political tensions in Türkiye’s largest city, where the opposition has held power since 2019. With national elections on the horizon, Istanbul’s future—both political and physical—is once again a battleground.
