CHP leader Özgür Özel denounces espionage charges, says ‘no chance’ of municipality trustee appointment

Istanbul – The leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, strongly reacted to the “espionage” charges and subsequent re-arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, stating that the ruling powers are “opening a new act” in the political drama.

Özel insisted that the serious accusation “will not stick to any of us, but this espionage charge will absolutely not stick to Ekrem İmamoğlu,” citing İmamoğlu’s high nationalistic sensitivities.

“We cannot relax the struggle. They are raising the level. We too must take the fight to a higher level,” Özel said, before providing a clear-cut response to the escalating question of whether a government trustee could be appointed to the IMM.

🎭 ‘They are opening a new act’

Responding to questions about whether the new charges mark a “new phase” or a “higher bar” being set against the CHP and İmamoğlu, Özel gave his evaluation:

“They are opening a new act. Of course, the accusations are becoming increasingly unacceptable. Look, we have been in politics with Ekrem Bey for years. Ekrem İmamoğlu’s nationalistic sensitivities are higher than all of ours. Ekrem İmamoğlu’s sensitivities in protecting Turkey’s rights and interests are higher than all of ours. So, while it wouldn’t stick to any of us, this espionage accusation will absolutely not stick to Ekrem İmamoğlu.”

❌ ‘No possibility of a trustee’

Özel firmly dismissed the widespread speculation about the possibility of appointing a government trustee to the IMM following İmamoğlu’s arrest on espionage charges:

“Since there is no terror crime in the referral article or the arrest article, there is no possibility of a trustee here. The possibility of a trustee was already eliminated both by the great resistance of the people in Saraçhane after the March 19th coup [referencing the previous attempt to remove İmamoğlu] and by the general public reaction to the issue.”

Özel framed the ongoing political battle as a psychological war: “The government, with its latest move, has turned the political struggle into a political war. Now they have turned this matter into psychological warfare. From that perspective, we have no right to stand still for a minute, or even take a breath.”

🛡️ ‘We return the accusation to them’

The CHP leader condemned the use of an alleged “English agent” to levy espionage accusations, calling the move unacceptable.

“We are not just fiercely rejecting this; fiercely rejecting is not enough. We are returning this to them. If there is an espionage activity involving data leakage, then the ministers—and Hakan Fidan comes first among them—and the head of the country, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are responsible for this matter.”

⚖️ Legal Background: can a trustee be appointed?

The question of appointing a trustee (kayyım) to the IMM is primarily governed by the Municipal Law (Law No. 5393).

• Key Condition for Trustee Appointment: The law, particularly as amended by Decree-Laws (KHKs), primarily bases the power to appoint a trustee on the initiation of an investigation or prosecution regarding terrorism offenses or aiding and abetting a terrorist organization.
• Espionage Charge (TCK Art. 328): The charge against İmamoğlu is “Political Espionage,” which falls under the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) section on Crimes Against the Security of the State.
  • High Risk View: Some legal and political commentators argue that since “Political Espionage” is a severe crime against “State Security,” it could be argued or politically framed as a sufficient basis, or an indirect link to terrorism may be sought, to justify a trustee appointment.
  • No Trustee View (Special’s Stance): Opposing legal views, including that of Özel, assert that the Municipal Law explicitly limits the condition for trustee appointment to terrorism-related crimes, and the espionage charge itself does not directly fall under this strict legal prerequisite.