Writing in Newsweek, Özel argues that mounting pressure on opposition politicians and institutions has pushed Turkey’s democracy to a critical juncture, with consequences extending beyond the country’s borders.
In an article for Newsweek, CHP leader Özgür Özel warns that the erosion of democratic institutions under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has moved beyond a domestic political issue. He argues that Turkey’s democratic backsliding now poses wider challenges for regional stability and international security.
According to Özel, the Turkish government has intensified pressure on the opposition following the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) strong performance in the 2024 local elections. He highlights the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, widely regarded as Erdoğan’s most prominent political challenger, as well as the detention of numerous opposition mayors and municipal officials.
Özel also criticises recent judicial decisions affecting the Republican People’s Party (CHP), claiming that legal interventions are being used to weaken the opposition and restrict democratic competition. He argues that efforts to place opposition institutions under political control threaten citizens’ ability to bring about change through democratic means.
Central to Özel’s argument is the idea that democracy provides peaceful mechanisms through which governments can be challenged and replaced. He warns that if these channels are removed, public frustration may deepen, creating a crisis of legitimacy and increasing the risk of political instability.
The opposition leader further argues that Turkey’s strategic position makes democratic decline particularly significant. As a key NATO member, a major regional military power, and an important actor in migration, energy, and Black Sea security, instability in Turkey could have consequences extending beyond its borders.
Özel suggests that governments facing declining domestic legitimacy may increasingly rely on nationalist rhetoric or external confrontations to bolster support. For this reason, he maintains that democratic governance and regional stability are closely connected.
Despite his criticism of the current political trajectory, Özel emphasises that he sees Turkey’s future within a democratic and European framework. He argues that stronger democratic institutions are essential if Turkey is to remain a reliable partner for Europe and play a constructive role in the region.
Concluding his article, Özel frames the struggle for democracy in Turkey as an issue with wider significance, arguing that the outcome will affect not only Turkey’s political future but also democratic norms and stability across a region facing growing geopolitical challenges.