16.08.2026 17:10
Muharrem İnce from the CHP visited Ekrem İmamoğlu, the suspended Mayor of Istanbul, in Marmara Prison where he is detained. İnce had remained in the CHP instead of moving to the New Party founded under Özgür Özel's leadership. Therefore, İnce's visit raised questions of whether it carried a political message.
Muharrem İnce from the CHP visited Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from his post, in the prison in Silivri.
Following Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's appointment to the CHP chairmanship by court decision and Özgür Özel's temporary suspension from this post, the leadership crisis that began in the CHP pushed the party toward a split. Özgür Özel, along with 90 deputies accompanying him, resigned from the CHP and announced the founding of the New Party. Özel's step dragged Turkish politics into a new process.
İMAMOĞLU HAD MOVED TO THE NEW PARTY
As waves of resignations in the CHP came one after another, suspended Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also announced that he had resigned from the Republican People's Party and joined the New Party.
MEANINGFUL VISIT FROM CHP MEMBER İNCE
Muharrem İnce from the CHP announced in a post on his social media account that he visited İmamoğlu, a member of the New Party, at the Marmara Penitentiary Institution where he is held.
In his statement, İnce said, "Ekrem İmamoğlu has been in the dungeon for 734,400 minutes, and 'minutes in the dungeon are no different from months,' he has been a captive without a sentence for 510 days! 'Do you know, stone wall?' I visited him today. He sends his regards to all of you."
"A POLITICAL MESSAGE?"
While Muharrem İnce's visit to Ekrem İmamoğlu, who ended his CHP membership at the first opportunity and joined the New Party, was criticized by some circles, it raised the question in minds: "Is this a political message?"