Turkey’s main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), plans to announce its presidential candidate for the next election in the coming months, its leader revealed on Tuesday. The move is intended to counter what the party describes as a judicial crackdown targeting its members.
This decision follows persistent calls over the past year for early elections, though the next voting period is officially set for 2028.
The opposition has been under increasing pressure, with CHP-run municipalities facing detentions and investigations amid heightened political tensions with ruling party officials.
Addressing CHP parliamentarians, party leader Özgür Özel stated, “Today, … by completing all the preparations … in February, March, and April, we are starting today to say that we are ready to (counter) this evil,” referring to the ongoing investigations.
Approximately 1.6 million CHP members are expected to participate in an internal vote to select the party’s presidential candidate, Özel added.
