Justice System and Everyday Life in Türkiye
🇹🇷 Tragedy in Balıkesir: F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes During Training Flight, Pilot Killed
A fighter jet from the 9th Main Jet Base Command in Balıkesir crashed shortly after take-off during a scheduled mission, resulting in the death of Air Force Major İbrahim Bolat. The F-16 went down near the Karesi district, close to the Istanbul-Izmir Motorway, scattering debris across a wide area and prompting emergency teams to close the road in both directions. Recovery operations continued through the night and into the early morning, while authorities confirmed an investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash.
🚔💊 Officer Who Gave Anti-Drug Seminars Arrested Over Drug Trafficking Links
A former narcotics officer who once delivered police seminars on the dangers of drugs has been arrested for allegedly providing information to the so-called Casperlar crime group and participating in drug trafficking activities. The operation targeted a network accused of leaking sensitive state data to the gang, whose leadership reportedly included Serkan Cemal Güney and former police officer İbrahim Tankoş. Tankoş, previously dismissed from the force, had spoken at public seminars while serving in the Narcotics Division, including events in Ahlat in 2020 warning of the harms of drug use. The case has drawn attention not only because of the alleged intelligence leaks but also due to the group’s rapid expansion into organised crime, including narcotics and violent clashes with rival gangs in Istanbul.
Politics
🚀🇹🇷 Erdoğan Hails Defence Export Record as Türkiye Sets Sights on Global Top 10
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that Türkiye’s defence and aerospace exports surpassed 10 billion dollars last year, marking a 48 per cent annual increase and placing the country 11th worldwide, with ambitions to break into the top 10 by 2028. Speaking at an event at the HAVELSAN Technology Campus, Erdoğan said exports had risen more than fortyfold since 2002, while the sector’s total project volume has now exceeded 100 billion dollars with over 1,400 active projects. Highlighting new investments including the commissioning of the SANCAR Unmanned Surface Vessel and facilities tied to simulation, naval combat systems and the KAAN platform, he said Türkiye had reduced foreign dependency in defence from 80 per cent to 20 per cent and was determined to advance digital sovereignty, cyber resilience and indigenous production as pillars of its “fully independent Türkiye” vision.
🗳️ Erdoğan’s Reported Formula to Win Support for a New Constitution
Fresh political speculation in Ankara suggests that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan may consider an unexpected route to secure another term in office. While early elections remain one option ahead of the scheduled 2028 vote, backstage discussions reported by journalist Nuray Babacan in Nefes claim Erdoğan could instead propose a constitutional amendment to restore the parliamentary system — a long-standing pledge of the opposition CHP. According to the claims, if polling were to indicate a risk of electoral defeat under the current presidential system, a return to parliamentarism could be placed before parliament in October 2027, with the calculation that such a framework might improve Erdoğan’s prospects. Within opposition circles, it is suggested that Mansur Yavaş could be nominated for president, with Ekrem İmamoğlu positioned for prime minister in the event of victory. Meanwhile, remarks by coalition partner Devlet Bahçeli ruling out early elections are interpreted by some ruling party figures as referring only to the immediate two-year period, leaving open the possibility of a vote brought forward into 2028.
🌲🇹🇷 Parliament Advances National Parks Reform with Three More Articles Approved
Türkiye’s Grand National Assembly has approved three further articles of a legislative proposal amending the National Parks Law, as debates continue in the General Assembly. The bill introduces changes to the National Parks Law, the Environmental Law and other related legislation, granting the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks broad authority to plan, build, operate or outsource infrastructure and facilities within protected areas, including national parks and nature reserves. The newly adopted provisions also allow the Directorate to seize and, where deemed necessary, immediately demolish unauthorised structures without requiring additional decisions. The proposal further expands the scope of protection services by empowering additional conservation officers and field wardens to conduct inspections and enforce regulations, while introducing plans to train local residents as “area guides” to improve visitor management and public awareness. The session was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon following the adoption of the eighth article.
🛑🌍 DMM Dismisses Claims Türkiye Would Invade Iran if US Launches Attack
The Disinformation Combat Centre (DMM) under the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications has rejected allegations circulating in parts of the media that Türkiye is planning to occupy Iranian territory on security grounds in the event of a US strike on Iran. In a statement shared on social media, the DMM described the reports as disinformation, stressing that the Turkish state respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of neighbouring countries, while continuing to take necessary measures to safeguard its own borders around the clock, regardless of crises. The public was urged not to rely on unverified claims and to follow official statements from authorised institutions instead.
💥 Dervişoğlu to Bahçeli: “Rename MHP to ‘Peoples’ Movement Party’”
İYİ Party leader Müsavat Dervişoğlu launched a scathing critique of MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli during his party’s parliamentary group meeting. Dervişoğlu responded strongly to Bahçeli’s recent comments about the status of Abdullah Öcalan, stating that instead of seeking “status” for Öcalan, Bahçeli should consider changing MHP’s name to “Halkların Hareket Partisi” (People’s Movement Party). Dervişoğlu slammed the idea of negotiating with “terrorists” and referred to Bahçeli’s statements as an attempt to legitimise Öcalan, calling it not just a legal issue but a matter of sovereignty. He also condemned the “extortionist politics” and “historical revisionism” he perceives in current ruling strategies, denouncing the government’s tactics as a form of political blackmail. Dervişoğlu’s harsh words follow a growing tension in Turkish politics over peace talks and the handling of the Kurdish issue.
🗓️📣 DEM Party Announces Fresh 27 February Message from Abdullah Öcalan
The DEM Party has announced that a new message from Abdullah Öcalan will be released to mark the first anniversary of his 27 February 2025 “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society”. Party officials said the statement will assess progress over the past year regarding the democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue and outline what Öcalan described in his most recent meeting as the requirements of a “second phase”. The event, to be held in Ankara on Friday at 11:00, will be led by co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan alongside members of the İmralı delegation, with representatives from civil society organisations, political parties, writers and journalists expected to attend. Öcalan’s original message last year included a call for the PKK to convene a congress and dissolve itself, stating that he was assuming the historic responsibility for urging an end to armed struggle.
📞 Ahmet Türk Speaks on Call with Bahçeli: “No Need to Prevaricate — The Government Must Act”
Former Mardin mayor Ahmet Türk has spoken publicly about his previous telephone conversations with Devlet Bahçeli, saying there is “no need to twist or turn matters” and that what truly counts are the steps the government is prepared to take. Referring to the recently completed parliamentary commission report and the broader political process, Türk argued that three confidence-building measures are essential: ending trustee appointments to municipalities, securing the release of Selahattin Demirtaş, and overturning sentences in the Kobani trial. He maintained that such moves would not require fresh legislation but rather political will. Türk also confirmed two phone calls with Bahçeli, including one concerning humanitarian aid lorries bound for Kobani via the Mürşitpınar border crossing. Commenting on remarks about the status of Abdullah Öcalan, Türk said Öcalan does not expect release from İmralı but called for improved conditions that would allow broader engagement, arguing this would contribute to lasting peace and public confidence.
🗳️🔍 New Alliance Talk on the Right, But One Door Firmly Shut
Political chatter in Ankara suggests renewed efforts to explore a fresh alliance on the right, particularly as the AKP–MHP axis looks to reinforce and possibly broaden the People’s Alliance following the local elections. The Welfare Again Party is said to have strengthened its bargaining position after its electoral performance, with contacts reportedly under way among smaller conservative parties, while DEVA, Future and Felicity are widely expected to cooperate. The real point of intrigue, however, is the İYİ Party. Party sources indicate it is not engaged in any alliance negotiations and is pursuing a more independent course after the tensions of the 2023 election cycle, arguing that broad coalitions may deliver short-term gains but risk long-term identity confusion. In short, there is movement and conversation on the right, yet for now the İYİ Party appears content to leave its chair conspicuously empty.
📊🗳️ SONAR Poll Puts CHP Back on Top as Türkiye’s Leading Party
A new nationwide survey by SONAR Research indicates that the Republican People’s Party remains in first place, maintaining the lead it has held since the 31 March 2024 local elections. According to the February poll, the CHP stands at 34.2 per cent, ahead of the ruling AKP on 31.1 per cent. The DEM Party is measured at 9 per cent, while the İYİ Party follows with 6.3 per cent, narrowly ahead of the MHP, which trails by 0.3 points. Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting, CHP leader Özgür Özel said seven recent polls had placed his party first, adding that in some the gap was steady and in others widening, but that the CHP remained ahead in each.
📊 Sayıştay Report Reveals 281 Doctors at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Are Not Insured
The 2024 Sayıştay Audit Report, published in September 2025, has revealed a serious gap in the mandatory insurance coverage of medical professionals at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University’s affiliated hospitals. The report highlights that 281 doctors, including 234 at Dursun Odabaş Faculty of Medicine and 47 at the Faculty of Dentistry, have failed to secure the legally required “Mandatory Professional Liability Insurance” as per the provisions of Turkish Law No. 1219.
This lack of insurance poses significant risks to both patient safety and public funds, as the insurance is designed to cover compensation in case of medical malpractice claims. Under the law, half of the insurance premium is to be paid by the doctor, with the other half covered by the university’s revolving fund. The report also underscores that failing to comply with the insurance requirement could lead to administrative fines, and the university’s management has reportedly begun steps to address the issue. However, as of the date of the audit, the 281 doctors were still working without insurance coverage.
Economy
🚛🤝 Türkiye Takes ‘Official’ Step with Iraq in Customs Diplomacy Push
Türkiye has formally escalated its diplomatic efforts to resolve the deepening banking and customs crisis affecting trade with Iraq, its second-largest export market. In a written submission delivered via the Turkish Embassy to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Ankara relayed the business community’s demands over disruptions linked to Iraq’s transition to the ASYCUDA digital customs system and the resulting exchange-rate losses. The three key requests include postponing the system’s implementation for six months, settling outstanding payments for shipments made before 1 January 2026, and allowing direct dollar transfers from Iraqi banks to their branches in Türkiye. Business representatives warn that blocked payments and procedural delays risk paralysing bilateral trade worth roughly 1 billion dollars a month, potentially disrupting supply chains in essential goods such as food, clothing and household products, particularly during Ramadan.
🚢 Controversy Resurfaces Over Privatization of Alsancak Port: Albayrak Group’s Interest in İzmir
The debate over the privatization of İzmir’s Alsancak Port, a key export hub in the Aegean region, has reignited. After unsuccessful talks with Abu Dhabi Ports, there are now claims that the AKP-affiliated Albayrak Group has entered the scene. According to reports, a technical team from Albayrak has conducted a detailed inventory analysis of the port, including inspections of the computers and software used by staff.
The port has been under the management of Turkey’s State Railways (TCDD) since it was transferred to the Turkey Wealth Fund in 2017, following a cancelled $1.2 billion sale bid in 2007. Recently, however, there has been speculation that the direction may be shifting towards local capital for privatization.
Union leaders, including Erdal Akyol, President of the United Transport Workers Union (BTS) in İzmir, have voiced strong opposition, claiming the privatization will cause public harm. Akyol criticized the move as a transfer of state assets to private capital, arguing that the port should remain under state control. He also highlighted concerns over environmental issues, underinvestment, and the potential for worker exploitation, referencing the negative impact of privatization on employees’ rights and conditions in other regions.
🚘 Turkey’s Vehicle Inspection System Set for Overhaul as TÜVTÜRK Is Replaced in 2027
Turkey’s vehicle inspection network is poised for a major transformation in 2027, when TÜVTÜRK will be replaced by Turka. Speaking to Bloomberg HT, Lothar Geilen, CEO of Opus — the US-based inspection giant and part of the MOİ joint venture that won the tender at three times the previous bid — said operations will begin with at least 250 stations across the country. The new programme will comprise 772 inspection lines and around 80 mobile stations, bringing the total to 850 lines in response to government calls for increased capacity. Geilen added that the company aims to cut inspection times by at least 10 per cent through automation and expanded use of technology, with heavy vehicle checks such as lorries expected to fall from 45 minutes to around 20, although he noted the changes would take time to implement.