The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has criticized Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel for divisive and destructive politics that undermine Türkiye’s national interests.

In a fiery social media statement, Çelik warned that Özel’s tactics would ultimately backfire, branding his leadership as a “comprehensive threat against Türkiye itself.”

Çelik underlined that Özel has consolidated power within the CHP and is now exploiting his position to destabilize the country’s social and economic fabric. “Özgür Özel has taken control of all dynamics within the CHP and is targeting Türkiye’s social and economic life to protect his chairmanship,” he noted. The AK Party spokesman described Özel’s approach as “the most extreme example of political fanaticism and social divisiveness” ever witnessed in Türkiye’s political landscape.

According to Çelik, Özel lacks the vision or capability to offer constructive opposition, instead resorting to polarizing rhetoric and actions. “He has reduced the CHP not only to a party devoid of any realistic governance vision, but even stripped it of its ability to carry out proper opposition,” Çelik asserted. He accused the CHP leader of peddling a toxic mix of “fanaticism, threats, targeting national firms, profiling citizens, and fueling social division,” rather than engaging in meaningful political discourse.

Çelik predicted that Özel’s efforts to undermine Türkiye’s progress would prove self-destructive. “The actions Özgür Özel is taking to undermine Türkiye’s achievements will ultimately only harm him,” he warned, expressing confidence that the public would see through the opposition leader’s tactics. “Our citizens will reject this fake politics and boycott these aggressive political figures,” he added.

The criticism comes amid heightened political unrest following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, a prominent CHP figure, on corruption charges. Imamoğlu was detained on March 19 and formally arrested on March 23, sparking widespread protests orchestrated by the CHP. The opposition party urged its supporters to boycott businesses and individuals who did not publicly denounce the mayor’s arrest, a move that has deepened societal rifts.

In response to the CHP’s mobilization efforts, riots erupted across Türkiye, prompting authorities to impose a ban on public gatherings, particularly in Istanbul. The unrest has intensified the already bitter rivalry between the ruling AK Party and the CHP, with Çelik’s remarks signaling a further escalation in the war of words.

As Türkiye grapples with the fallout from Imamoğlu’s arrest and the CHP’s aggressive pushback, Çelik’s statement reflects the AK Party’s determination to frame Özel as a reckless agitator unfit to lead. Whether the public will heed his call to reject the CHP’s “fake politics” remains to be seen, but the deepening divide between the two parties shows no signs of abating. For now, Türkiye stands at a crossroads, with political tensions threatening to spill over into broader instability. (ILKHA)