Erdogan visits Republican People’s Party headquarters for first time in 18 Years

ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the headquarters of the Republican People’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP) in Ankara, where he was received by the party’s leader, Ozgur Ozel. The visit marks Erdogan’s first visit to the CHP headquarters in 18 years.

The visit follows a significant shift in the political landscape after the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) experienced a loss of support in the municipal elections held in March. In the elections, the CHP secured victories in major cities, including Istanbul, Ankara, and several Anatolian provinces.

Erdogan’s last visit to the CHP headquarters was in 2006 when he was serving as Prime Minister. The recent meeting lasted for an hour and a half, with Erdogan accompanied by his deputy, Mustafa Alitas. They were joined by CHP leader Ozgur Ozel and deputy Namik Tan.

During the discussion, the two sides addressed several key issues, including the arrest of Hakkari’s mayor, Mehmet Siddiq Akç, from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (Partiya Wekhevî û Demokrasiya Gelan, DEM), who has been replaced by a government appointee. They also covered the case of Osman Kavala, the Gezi detainees, low employee salaries, the economic crisis, and concerns of farmers.

This historic visit signifies a potential shift in Turkish political dynamics, reflecting the changing power balance.