Operations in Izmir heighten tensions within the CHP

Investigations and operations targeting the CHP in Izmir became more visible after the absolute nullity debates. The recent detentions in Seferihisar, along with developments in the Buca file and the İZBETON case, have raised the question of how the intra-party rivalry is reflected in the judicial processes.

Scraper SystemJune 17, 2026, 07:35 PM

Operations in Izmir heighten tensions within the CHP

Istanbul – After the absolute nullity ruling, operations targeting the CHP intensified in Izmir. So why is Izmir specifically targeted? What does Izmir mean for Özgür Özel? How is the Cemil Tugay-Tunç Soyer rivalry reflected in the investigations? We have compiled the developments in the ongoing investigations and cases for you. While the CHP was experiencing congress and absolute nullity debates, the operations intensified in Izmir.

An operation had previously been conducted at Buca Municipality and the mayor had been arrested. Today, an operation was carried out at Seferihisar Municipality. According to a statement from the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the investigation obtained findings that some individuals and organizations linked to the Seferihisar Municipality had secured benefits in exchange for actions related to construction and zoning processes.

In the operation, among those detained were Seferihisar Deputy Mayor Gökhan Pehlivan, construction company officials, company executives, and Veli Ağbaba's advisor Özlem Akyılmaz. In a statement to Halk TV, Ağbaba confirmed Akyılmaz was his advisor and said regarding the allegation of a 500,000 TL money transfer, 'It could have been an election-related expense.'

Two days ago, there was a notable development in the İZBETON case being conducted in Izmir. Former İZBETON General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya, who was on trial for allegedly commissioning a poll through İZBETON before the local elections, was ordered to be released. Kaya will remain in prison as he is detained in the 'embezzlement' investigation at the Izmir Business People Örnekköy Housing Construction Cooperative.

Today, former İZBETON General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya, who made his defense in the cooperative case, criticized the current Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay. Kaya said, 'Cemil Tugay has not been able to overcome Tunç Başkan emotionally and psychologically, and has turned it into a complex. Apparently, he has experienced the same complexes towards me,' and particularly emphasized the tension between Tugay and Soyer during the congress process.

Kaya also criticized Tugay regarding İZBETON, saying, 'His first act after taking office was to send auditors to İZBETON.' What is important here is that Cemil Tugay supported Özgür Özel during the congress process, while Tunç Soyer supported his party in Istanbul instead of Tugay and was close to Kılıçdaroğlu.

We asked a person on Özgür Özel's Central Executive Board, 'So why is Izmir targeted now, what changed after the absolute nullity ruling, are people close to Kılıçdaroğlu being released and those close to Özel being arrested?' The response: 'Operations that previously focused on Ekrem İmamoğlu, İBB bureaucrats, and politicians in Istanbul are now spreading across Turkey.

Both Akın Gürlek becoming the Minister of Justice and the summer decree that reassigned 4,000 judges and prosecutors demonstrate this. The absolute nullity ruling was already made to paralyze the opposition, render it dysfunctional, turn it into an acceptable opposition, and transform it into a form that essentially does not exist. The aim is to change the regime.

The special situation of Izmir is this: Izmir is one of the places Özgür Özel cares about most and works on specially. He did this by increasing the number of young people nominated and by getting eight women mayors elected before the elections. That is why he is being targeted. Apart from this, Izmir also has a unique place in Özgür Özel's life and political career.

At a point where Özel is told to 'do Ankara politics,' they are now trying to spread what was applied in Istanbul to Izmir, to all of Turkey.'

'It should be viewed independently of whom a person supports.' It is also on the agenda that people close to Kılıçdaroğlu will be released, while those close to Özel and politicians will be targeted.

The person on Özel's executive board responded to this question as follows: 'In Izmir, detention orders were previously issued unlawfully. Regarding the Kılıçdaroğlu administration, for example, they announce that they are expelling deputies, saying 'let them be cleared and come back,' but the case in the İBB file is progressing, and slanders are being disproven every day. This is not being considered. This approach shows alignment with the AKP judiciary.

For Izmir as well, it is not correct to evaluate based on individuals; it should be looked at in principle, and legality should be demanded. Regardless of whom they support. Trial without detention is the rule. It is being treated as if it were an exception.'

The most important point of this issue is the detention of former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer. Soyer was taken into custody and arrested on July 1, 2025, in the cooperative investigation.

The Tugay-Soyer rivalry was also reflected in this file, and it was argued that 157 people were detained as a result of Tugay's internal audits. Including the initially opened asphalt and vehicle rental files, there is currently no one in detention from these files. Soyer, meanwhile, was first arrested for a second time on December 30, 2025. He was then released from his first detention in the cooperative file. But five days ago, he was arrested again and was not released.

On April 14, 2026, he was arrested again in a second file. These were allegations regarding the internal affairs of the cooperatives. MASAK reports were obtained for both, and no financial relationship was found. In a detention review, Soyer said, 'Your Honor, tell me one document with my signature, one money movement, just one, so I can understand what I am accused of.' The judge only asked for his defense.

Soyer said, 'I will not make a defense because I do not know what I am accused of.' Indictments have not been prepared for the two files in which his detention continues, but Soyer's detention is still ongoing. Did he cause someone from the same party to be imprisoned? The rivalry between Soyer and Tugay is still ongoing.

In a statement in February, Cemil Tugay said, 'The case has nothing to do with me,' and added, 'I have said hundreds of times publicly that I find Mr. Soyer's detention on trial to be very unjust and wrong. I absolutely reject the guilty label that is being attempted to be stuck on me.' On Soyer's social media, a post was made: 'You have caused the imprisonment of your predecessor, who was elected from the same party.

A normal person would not clash with even their enemy under these conditions, would not provoke them.' Now many people think that after the absolute nullity ruling, new operations will be carried out in Izmir, and there will be new arrests in operations targeting municipalities close to Cemil Tugay and Özgür Özel. This claim is particularly strengthened by the investigations of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into Buca and Seferihisar.

It remains uncertain whether steps will be taken regarding the detention of Tunç Soyer, who stood close to Kılıçdaroğlu during the election period and criticized Cemil Tugay, who was supported by Özgür Özel.

Operations in Izmir heighten tensions within the CHP