13.07.2026 21:40
When asked why he remained silent in the face of the investigation and operation launched against the CHP-led Çankaya Municipality, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu paused for a long time before breaking his hesitation and responding with a single sentence: “I had suspicions.” Referring to the judicial process, Kılıçdaroğlu stated he believed the mayors would clear themselves before the law, adding, “They will be acquitted and return, and I will embrace them.”
An investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the CHP-affiliated Çankaya Municipality is ongoing.
In operations coordinated by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and conducted by the Istanbul Provincial Police Department Financial Crimes Branch, 30 people, including Mayor Hüseyin Can Güner and some municipal bureaucrats, have been detained on charges of 'forming a criminal organization', 'being a member of a criminal organization', 'taking bribes', 'giving bribes', and 'rigging a tender'.
KILIÇDAROĞLU'S RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION "WHY DID YOU STAY SILENT?"
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was reinstated as CHP Chairman by court order, responded to a question about this development during a live broadcast on tv100. When asked why he remained silent in the face of the operation, Kılıçdaroğlu paused for a long time, then broke his hesitation and said in a single sentence, "I had my suspicions."
"THEY WILL BE ACQUITTED AND COME BACK, AND I WILL EMBRACE THEM"
In the continuation of his statement, referring to the judicial process, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed his belief that the mayors would exonerate themselves before the law, saying: "Let me not go into details. Our mayors will go and defend themselves in court. They will be acquitted and come back, and I will embrace them. I don't want to comment on this matter. I would be putting myself in a different position. How can you express an opinion on a matter you don't know about? I am not the Mayor of Çankaya, nor am I an employee there. Such an operation is being carried out. Our mayor will defend himself, he will present his documents. If you take part in a municipality, investigations related to all mayors are opened; complaints, reports—these are normal."