(February 13, 2025)
When Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ran for re-election in 2023, he told voters, it would be the last time. Under current provisions, Turkey’s President can only hold office for two five-year terms, but it now appears that Erdoğan will seek a (constitutionally prohibited) fourth term. To achieve this, he will need to find a way to change the constitution, but this can only happen if he succeeds in gaining the support of Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party.
(March 5, 2025)
Drawing Kurdish political support away from the opposition and securing Kurdish backing for constitutional reforms would allow him to seek another presidential term.
With 57 parliamentary seats, DEM holds significant sway and can make all the difference if Erdoğan initiates a constitutional amendment process.
(May 7, 2025)Congress President Marc Cools led the first international delegation to meet Mayor İmamoğlu following his arrest on 23 March 2025.
After their official visit to Türkiye on 5-6 May 2025, the delegation made the following statement:
“Following our substantial exchange of views with Mr. İmamoğlu we remain convinced that it is unacceptable, under the rule of law, to deprive Istanbul of its elected mayor by detaining him without trial or substantiated charges, and we reiterate our call for his immediate release. This situation constitutes a violation of Mr. İmamoğlu‘s fundamental human rights and seriously hampers the ability of local governance in the largest city of Türkiye to function effectively in serving the needs of its citizens.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayoral candidate for Istanbul, emerged as the victor of the June 23 local election rerun after unofficial results were released, thanking his teammates and all Istanbul residents.
“You have protected our tradition of democracy, dating back a hundred years. Thank you, fellow Istanbul residents,” İmamoğlu said in a press conference on June 23.
Der Abstand zwischen den beiden Kandidaten betrug nach Auszählung von 97,4 Prozent der Stimmen mehr als 730.000 Stimmen. Wahlberechtigt waren rund 10,5 Millionen Menschen. Nach der ersten Wahl vom 31. März hatte Imamoglu nur einen Vorsprung von gut 20.000 Stimmen gehabt.