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A wave of legal pressure against Turkey's main opposition party is intensifying, sparking nationwide protests and accusations that the government is orchestrating a political purge under the cover of a potential historic peace development. The arrest of Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar on July 8 has brought thousands onto the streets, with the Republican People's Party (CHP) decrying the move as a baseless attack on democracy just as the nation holds its breath for the anticipated disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The timing of the government's actions has led to widespread speculation that a major political strike is being planned to coincide with the PKK's expected announcement. In a new analysis, commentator Murat Yetkin questioned the government's motives. Yetkin suggests the government may be waiting for public attention to be focused on the PKK's move, expected around July 11, to launch a decisive blow against the CHP, thereby neutralizing protests by framing them as attempts to sabotage the peace process.
The crackdown extends far beyond Adana. The investigation into Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, initiated on March 19, continues without an indictment, fueling claims that prosecutors are struggling to substantiate their case. The recent removal of the police chief overseeing the İmamoğlu probe has only added to these suspicions. The arrest of Mayor Karalar was based on an unsubstantiated allegation of corruption from 11 years ago, which he denies. The move prompted a stark warning from Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, who offered his resignation, stating, "If the goal is to block CHP mayors, I will leave my post. Just stop playing with our honor."
Analysts note that these developments extend beyond simply trying to sideline potential presidential rivals, such as İmamoğlu. The target appears to be the CHP as a whole, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan repeatedly alluding to a "big turnip" on the horizon—a Turkish idiom for a significant, often unpleasant, surprise.
The pro-Kurdish DEM Party, initially accused of focusing too narrowly on the Kurdish issue, has now shifted its stance, recognizing a broader threat to Turkish democracy. DEM Co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları Oruç warned that the operations against opposition municipalities were poisoning the atmosphere for the "Terror-Free Turkey" process. She challenged the government, stating that if the goal was truly to fight corruption, then all municipalities, including those governed by the ruling AK Party and its appointed trustees, should be investigated. However, the government has so far dismissed warnings from the opposition, the European Court of Human Rights, and international investors, choosing instead to leverage its hardline stance for domestic political gain. As the country approaches a potential turning point with the PKK, it finds itself caught in a dangerous political spiral, with critics warning the government is "playing with fire" and risking democratic stability for political dominance.