CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu considers backing İmamoğlu’s candidacy in elections
Turkey’s interim leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, said he may support the nomination of imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in the presidential election, provided legal obstacles are overcome. In an interview with Euronews in Ankara, he said this would require negotiations and opposition unity.
The İmamoğlu case
İmamoğlu was arrested in March 2025 on corruption charges. His supporters consider the charges politically motivated, citing İmamoğlu’s status as one of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s most convincing rivals. Turkish authorities reject accusations of political interference.
Kılıçdaroğlu said that İmamoğlu’s potential participation in the presidential race does not in itself make the criminal case political. At the same time, he said, the Istanbul mayor should not have been held in custody before trial. In March 2025, Istanbul University annulled İmamoğlu’s diploma, calling into question his right to run: Turkey’s Constitution requires presidential candidates to have higher education.
İmamoğlu later joined the Yeni Parti, led by his ally Özgür Özel. Kılıçdaroğlu stressed that the opposition must act jointly, as winning the presidential election requires securing 51% of the vote.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Dispute surrounding the CHP
Kılıçdaroğlu returned to lead the CHP on an interim basis after a court annulled the results of the party’s 2023 congress, at which Özel replaced him. The court ruling of May 21 restored the party’s previous leadership. Özel’s team denies accusations of vote-buying and says the authorities are using the judicial system against the CHP. Özel appealed the court’s decision.
Kılıçdaroğlu denied involvement in the case and acknowledged that a split would weaken the CHP. In the 2024 local elections, the party led by Özel retained control of Istanbul and Ankara. In Turkey’s 600-seat parliament, Yeni Parti has 91 lawmakers and the CHP has 44.
Regional politics
Speaking about the confrontation between Israel and Iran, Kılıçdaroğlu called on Turkey to play a leading role in ensuring peace in the region. He recalled the CHP’s proposal to establish a Middle East Organization for Peace and Cooperation involving Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, which could later expand.
