President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signaled a new wave of criminal investigations that appear poised to target municipalities governed by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), as well as affiliated business figures and networks. In a video message delivered to AK Party organizations on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, Erdoğan emphasized that the government is “closely following” corruption, bribery, and terrorism-related probes centered in Istanbul — warning that these investigations will expand and expose what he described as a “criminal network” encircling opposition-run municipalities.
“As the investigation progresses and deepens, the tentacles of the criminal organization that has gripped municipalities like an octopus will, of course, be revealed,” Erdoğan declared, hinting at an aggressive legal and political campaign to follow. He characterized recent unrest in the streets and incidents during the last 10 days of Ramadan as attempts to “cover up theft,” casting doubt on the motives of those protesting or drawing attention to heavy-handed crackdowns.
While Erdoğan stopped short of naming specific municipalities or individuals, the statement was widely interpreted as a direct warning to high-profile CHP mayors and business allies perceived to be part of a broader opposition ecosystem. Observers note that this messaging follows recent moves by prosecutors and law enforcement to open or revive cases targeting urban administrations aligned with the opposition.
The timing of the statement — issued during a religious holiday — has also raised eyebrows. Analysts suggest Erdoğan is using the occasion to rally his political base and reinforce a narrative portraying the opposition as corrupt, conspiratorial, and connected to illicit activities.
In the same message, Erdoğan claimed a new era had begun in Syria following the reported end of the civil war, and vowed to build a terror-free Turkey that includes “Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Alevis—all living in peace.” He also praised law enforcement for resisting provocation and marginal movements, and reaffirmed the AK Party’s focus on pursuing its own agenda rather than being drawn into what he described as the “internal quarrels of the main opposition.”
As Turkey heads toward a potential new political cycle, Erdoğan’s message signals a hardening tone toward the opposition — and possibly a new chapter of legal pressure on CHP-led municipalities and associated circles.
