“Clean Hands” or Power Struggle? Turkey’s Ruling Party Faces Expanding Wave of Investigations

A growing series of high-profile investigations and arrests in Türkiye—publicly framed by pro-government commentators as a “clean hands” campaign—has increasingly exposed deep internal rivalries within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). While officials deny political motives, the widening scope of operations has ensnared figures closely linked to the government, raising questions about whether the process reflects genuine accountability or an intensifying intra-party power struggle.

From Opposition Claims to AKP-Centered Investigations

The debate over Türkiye’s recent wave of judicial operations gained momentum after Sabah columnist Mahmut Övür posed a pointed question: were investigations ranging from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İmamoğlu) probe to cases involving Investco, Verusa Holding, Can Holding, Assan Group, the Istanbul Gold Refinery, currency exchange offices in the Grand Bazaar, a former Central Bank deputy governor, and the long-dormant Paramount Hotel file all aimed at blocking the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)?

Övür argued they were not, asserting that while some probes inevitably touch political figures, their reach could extend across parties. He framed the developments under a bold headline: “Clean Hands Operation.”

A Cascade of New Operations

Since then, additional investigations have followed, including cases involving alleged espionage, match-fixing and illegal betting, tourism tycoons, the so-called Mehmet Akif Ersoy operation, and the probe into GAİN Media.

Pro-government commentators and AKP-linked figures have increasingly suggested that more investigations are imminent, using phrases such as “this is just the beginning” and “everyone involved in wrongdoing will be pursued.” Public statements and media commentary have reinforced the impression that the cases are interconnected and part of a broader campaign.

Names Circulating, Allegations Mounting

Left-wing outlet soL has repeatedly highlighted that individuals linked—directly or indirectly—to these cases include Mehmet Uçum, Hakan Fidan, Fahrettin Altun, Rezan Epözdemir, Sedat Peker, Süleyman Soylu, Mehmet Ağar, Cuneyd Zapsu, Cihan Ekşioğlu, and Sezgin Baran Korkmaz.

While some of these figures have faced formal charges and others have been mentioned only at the level of allegation, their common denominator, according to critics, is proximity to the AKP power structure.

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Investco, Assan, and Can Holding Cases

Investigations into Investco Holding were launched over allegations of laundering proceeds of crime through stock market transactions. Among those detained was Ömer Özbay, former CEO of Verusa and author of a book on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s life, who previously served as an adviser to Erdoğan.

In the Assan Group case, company owner Emin Öner and CEO Gürcan Okumuş were arrested on espionage-related charges. Lawyer İsmet Sayhan, who had previously worked in senior roles at state arms manufacturer MKE and later advised Assan Group, was also detained on charges related to state security. The case was widely interpreted as reflecting tensions within the AKP–MHP governing alliance.

The Can Holding investigation emerged as one of the most controversial, drawing in allegations involving senior figures such as Mehmet Uçum and Hakan Fidan. Lawyer Rezan Epözdemir was arrested in connection with the case, which many analysts describe as the central pillar linking subsequent waves of investigations.

Istanbul Gold Refinery and Central Bank Links

In the Istanbul Gold Refinery probe, critics noted that no action was taken against Prof. Dr. İrfan Gündüz, a founding AKP member and chairman of Ibn Haldun University’s board of trustees, despite his senior position at the company. Bilal Erdoğan, the president’s son, serves as deputy chairman of the same university’s board.

Separately, an investigation into the Interbank Card Center (BKM), in which the Central Bank is the main shareholder, identified public losses exceeding 100 million lira. Eight people, including former Central Bank deputy governor Emrah Şener—known to be close to former finance minister Berat Albayrak—were arrested. Şener was later released after spending about a month in detention.

The Paramount Hotel File Resurfaces

The long-dormant Paramount Hotel case resurfaced amid allegations by convicted crime figure Sedat Peker, who claimed the hotel was used to host influential figures linked to the Yalıkavak Marina takeover. According to Peker, those hosted included senior security officials, judges, media figures, and pro-government commentators.

Opposition figures later alleged that politicians such as former prime minister Binali Yıldırım and defense industry chief İsmail Demir had also stayed at the hotel. Businessman Cihan Ekşioğlu, described as close to Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, was arrested in connection with the case, while Sezgin Baran Korkmaz remains a fugitive.

The Mehmet Akif Ersoy and GAİN Media Investigations

The Mehmet Akif Ersoy operation marked a turning point, as Sabah newspaper directly targeted a figure linked to the presidential palace. Furkan Torlak, coordinator of the Presidency’s Disinformation Combat Center, was named in allegations involving narcotics and resigned shortly afterward.

Subsequent public disputes escalated further when pro-government commentator Cem Küçük issued statements suggesting detailed financial scrutiny of senior officials and warning that investigative files extended even to cabinet-level figures.

Another AKP figure, Şamil Tayyar, publicly claimed that more serious allegations existed against unnamed individuals who had not yet been investigated, raising questions about selective enforcement and political pressure.

Media Power Struggles and Internal Rivalries

The release of a video involving Fevzi Çakır—reportedly slated to take over Habertürk—by Sabah journalists, followed by Çakır’s resignation, further highlighted the factional nature of the conflict. Observers describe the developments as part of an intensifying struggle for influence and control within the AKP ahead of a post-Erdoğan era.

Clean Hands or Intra-Party Reckoning?

While pro-government figures insist the investigations represent a genuine anti-corruption drive, critics argue the pattern points to an internal AKP power struggle rather than systemic reform.

Across cases—from GAİN Media to betting operations, Can Holding, and the Paramount Hotel—analysts note recurring references to networks allegedly tied to illicit financial flows and opaque money channels. These networks, critics argue, extend far beyond the individuals currently targeted.

As some figures appear expendable and others remain untouched, opposition voices question whether the process can credibly be framed as a “clean hands” campaign.

A High-Risk Strategy

Analysts warn that attempting to package internal conflict as a corruption purge may prove difficult, given how deeply allegations reach into state institutions, ministries, and the presidential palace itself.

Rather than a contained clean-up, critics describe the situation as a high-stakes confrontation within the ruling elite—one that could expand further as investigations continue.

Whether this struggle reshapes Türkiye’s political landscape—or deepens public distrust—may ultimately depend not only on the AKP’s internal dynamics but also on how society responds to the allegations of systemic corruption now dominating the national debate.

Author: Staff Writer
Source: SolYZ

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