Ankara – Last Sunday, the Public Prosecution in Ankara opened a new investigation against the leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party, Ozgor Ozil, against the backdrop of statements he made after the arrest of a number of mayors of his party, which included accusations of the government and an invitation to early elections.
The Public Prosecution stated, in a statement, that Ozil’s statements during the press conference held after the meeting of the party’s executive committee on July 5, included “insulting the President of the Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, public incitement to commit a crime, insulting and threatening government officials.”
“If you are the first party, then prove this through the polls, do not be afraid,” Ozil said in his statements.
Chain of prosecution
The new investigation comes in the context of a series of judicial prosecutions against Ozil since he took over the presidency of the Republican People’s Party. Last June, the prosecution opened another investigation against him on charges of “insulting the public prosecutor in Istanbul and directing threats to the judiciary” during a public gathering.
President Erdogan also filed a lawsuit last November, accusing Ozil of “publicly insulting the president” and “prejudice to the reputation and honor of the presidential position.”
Ozil faces another lawsuit dating back to last February, challenging his election as the party’s president, against the background of allegations related to “buying votes” during the General Party conference in November 2023.
In a related context, the president’s lawyers filed a new compensatory lawsuit before the judiciary, calling for Ozil to pay 500 thousand Turkish liras (about 12 thousand and 500 dollars) on the pretext of “damaging the reputation of the head of state.”
Local media reports indicate that the Turkish Parliament may soon start procedures for lifting parliamentary immunity from Ozil, to pave the way for his trial on charges of “insulting a public official.”
The recent judicial escalation comes against the backdrop of a congested political atmosphere, as the country witnessed the arrest of three mayors of the Republican People’s Party municipalities in Adana, Antalya and Daiyan on corruption charges, which have sparked widespread controversy between supporters in which they see a “step to protect public money”, and opposed it as “part of a campaign to narrow the screws on the opposition party.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyrqsc2fem
Reactions
The announcement of the investigation and the presentation of the lawsuit sparked a wave of various reactions. The opposition condemned these measures and described it as “opposition to political pluralism” and an attempt to curb freedom of expression, considering that it is a new episode in a continuous campaign against the party and its symbols.
Party spokesman Deniz Yujil described the measures as a “new link in a systematic campaign targeting the party and its leaders.”
The opponents link these measures to the broader case that began after the arrest of the Istanbul Mayor Akram Imamoglu last March, as Turkey witnessed widespread protests and an atmosphere of economic turmoil, and accusations against the government of influencing the judiciary and applying “anti -democracy” policies.
On the other hand, the ruling Justice and Development Party defended the judicial procedures, stressing that it comes within the framework of “protecting the prestige of the state and defending the position of the presidential establishment.”
The spokesman for the ruling party, Omar Glick, described the statements of the opposition leader as “full of ugly and ethical phrases,” stressing that the party “will stand with all its political strength in the face of any abuse of the President of the Republic and state institutions.”
New turn
The case entered a new turning point with its move to the Turkish parliament square, after referring the indictment calling for the lifting of parliamentary immunity from the leader of the Republican People’s Party, Ozgor Ozil, to the presidency of Parliament, in preparation for the formation of a specialized committee that determines an appointment to discuss the request to lift the immunity.
In the event of approval of Parliament, which requires the support of at least 360 deputies, the door may be opened to the trial of Ozil with the charges against it, which may reach prison, according to Turkish laws.
This coincided with the escalation of political controversy, after Ozil called for early presidential elections, in a move that observers considered an attempt to pressure the government in light of the congestion between the two sides.
However, the Turkish president resolved the controversy, stressing in a speech before the parliamentary bloc of the Justice and Development Party last Wednesday, that the presidential and parliamentary elections will take place on the time scheduled for 2028, without any change.
“The person who heads the Republican People’s Party has been repeating the term of the elections, but I would like to mention it that the constitution and the election law have not changed, and therefore the presidential and parliament elections will be held in 2028, and the local administrations elections in 2029,” Erdogan said.
In the context, political analyst Omar Afshar believes that the possibility of lifting parliamentary immunity from Ozgor Ozil is a list, but it is not yet settled, as it is subject to accurate political accounts more than a purely legal issue.
Afshar notes, in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net, that the Justice and Development Party and its ally, the National Movement Party, possesses a comfortable majority in Parliament, giving them the numerical ability to pass the request to lift immunity.
He also believes that small parties such as “Hoda Bar”, which are often voted for the government in issues related to the state’s status, may represent an additional support in this direction.
However, on the other hand, Afshar warns that such a step may take place internally and externally, considering that lifting the immunity of the leader of the largest opposition parties may be seen as a political escalation, which would ignite an open confrontation between the government and the opposition, as well as stirring international criticism related to political freedoms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5bzsyjs9k
Internal confusion
A political researcher at Anatolia University believes that the recent developments between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Uzgar Ozil, and the accompanying mutual positions, represents the beginning of a clear -cut legal path.
(A.) indicates in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net, that the meetings that brought together the two sides during May and June at the time raised speculation in the media about the possibility of Turkey entering a stage of political calm between the largest Turkish parties, but that Ozil’s return to the political interface – in its opinion – caused confusion within the ruling party, even if it was explicitly unannounced.
The researcher raises a question about whether the operations that targeted the mayors of the Republican People’s Party are within what it calls the “winding policy” of President Erdogan, which are characterized by attempts to divide the opposition from within, and surprise his opponents, and most importantly, re -imposing the agenda of the Justice and Development Party on public opinion, with the aim of restoring the confidence of the Turkish street.
In its opinion, the issues against Ozil play a major role in managing public opinion, as the government seeks – as it says – to create the impression of the street that it faces political threats within the framework of the law, which enhances popular confidence in the Justice and Development Party.
You also see that this step also represents an attempt by President Erdogan to protect the prestige of the Presidency Foundation, and to preserve the position of state institutions through the judicial path.
