All articles tagged with #opposition party
A Turkish prosecutor has demanded over 2,000 years in prison for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges and has also requested the shutdown of his opposition party, CHP, amid a broader crackdown on critics of President Erdogan, which Imamoglu and the CHP deny as politically motivated.
Turkey's local elections resulted in a major blow to President Erdogan's AK Party as the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) claimed victory in key cities including Istanbul and Ankara. This marks the first time Erdogan's party has lost the popular vote since 2002, and the defeat is seen as a significant setback for the president. The election results signal a potential shift in Turkish politics and pose a challenge to Erdogan's leadership, particularly with the re-election of CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu as mayor of Istanbul.
Imran Khan, Pakistan's former prime minister, used artificial intelligence (AI) to campaign from behind bars in an online rally organized by his opposition party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The AI-generated video featured Khan's voice, graphics, and previously filmed footage, as he urged Pakistanis to vote in the upcoming national election. Khan, who is facing corruption and state secrets charges, claims the cases against him are politically motivated. The virtual rally, viewed over a million times on social media, aimed to compensate for Khan's absence from the campaign field due to a crackdown on political events. However, experts warn about the potential misuse of AI technology for spreading disinformation and propaganda.
Hasan Bitmez, a Turkish lawmaker from the opposition Saadet Party, has died at the age of 54 after suffering a heart attack on the floor of parliament. Bitmez collapsed shortly after delivering a fiery speech criticizing Turkey's trade with Israel during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. In his speech, he declared that Israel "will suffer the wrath of Allah." Bitmez was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but did not survive. His collapse was attributed by some MPs to "God's wrath."
Turkish lawmaker Hasan Bitmez, a member of the opposition Felicity Party, has died two days after collapsing while giving a speech in parliament, where he stated that Israel would "suffer the wrath of Allah" for its actions in Gaza. Bitmez had been critical of President Erdogan's ruling AK Party and Turkey's trade with Israel. He collapsed after finishing his speech and was rushed to the hospital, where he received treatment in the intensive care unit. The Health Minister revealed that Bitmez died after suffering a heart attack.
Heavy gunfire erupted near Guinea-Bissau's presidential palace as soldiers freed a finance minister from the main opposition party who had been detained for suspected misuse of public funds. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, but gunshots were heard throughout the night and into the morning. The whereabouts of the freed minister and treasury secretary are currently unknown. Guinea-Bissau has a history of coups, with at least 10 attempted or successful coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.
Greece's main opposition party, Syriza, is experiencing further dissolution as nine lawmakers, including ex-ministers and senior party officials, announced their departure, accusing party leader Stefanos Kasselakis of "authoritarian behavior." This exodus leaves Syriza with only 36 MPs in the 300-seat parliament. The party has been struggling since its crushing election defeat in June and the election of Kasselakis as leader in September, which infuriated a large segment of the party core. Syriza is now facing the challenge of re-energizing support and preventing further fragmentation within the left-wing party.
South Africa's parliament voted in favor of cutting diplomatic ties with Israel due to Israeli actions in Gaza, a move criticized by the country's largest opposition party and Jewish representative body. The vote is non-binding, but the government will decide whether to act on it. South Africa recently referred Israel to the International Criminal Court for potential war crimes in Gaza. Israel claims self-defense in response to attacks by Hamas.
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has elected Ozgur Ozel as its new leader, replacing incumbent Kemal Kilicdaroglu, ahead of the upcoming local elections in March. Ozel, who has been serving as the CHP's deputy parliamentary group chairman since 2015, received 812 out of 1,366 votes at a party congress in Ankara. The change in leadership comes after the CHP's defeat in the May presidential and general elections. Ozel's victory, supported by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, is seen as a potential turning point in Turkish politics and could impact the trend of depoliticization in the country. Ozel will now lead the CHP in the local elections, aiming to retain key municipalities won in 2019.
Protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina turned violent in Bangladesh, resulting in one police officer killed and over 100 people injured. The main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), called for the protests, demanding a neutral caretaker government for the upcoming elections. Hasina's government has rejected the demand, stating that the election should be held under her government's supervision. The protests marked a new phase in the opposition's demonstrations, with the BNP calling for a countrywide strike in response to the police action. Hasina's administration has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights violations, and the US has threatened sanctions against those undermining the democratic process in Bangladesh.
Pakistan's President Arif Alvi has refused to sign two bills that would grant authorities more power to prosecute acts against the state and military, stating that he disagreed with the laws. Alvi claims that he instructed his staff to return the bills unsigned, but they undermined his orders. The Ministry of Law and Justice expressed grave concern over Alvi's decision, stating that it goes against the constitution. As per the constitution, if the president doesn't sign or return a bill within 10 days, it automatically becomes law. Alvi's refusal to sign the bills comes amidst political turmoil, with a close aide of former Prime Minister Imran Khan being arrested for allegedly misusing a diplomatic cable for political gain.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the vice chairman of Pakistan's opposition party PTI, has been arrested in Islamabad by a large contingent of police. This comes two months after his release in a case related to protests in May. Qureshi had previously stated that the party would challenge any delay in the upcoming election, which is expected to take place in early November.
Senegal has suspended access to TikTok and cut mobile data access as part of a wider crackdown on dissent, following the dissolution of the main opposition party and the detention of its leader. The government claims that TikTok is being used to spread subversive and hateful messages. Human rights groups have criticized the move, stating that it violates freedom of expression and democratic principles. The country has experienced violent demonstrations amid a power struggle between opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and President Macky Sall.
Senegal has blocked access to the social media app TikTok as part of a widening clampdown on dissent, following the dissolution of the main opposition party and the detention of its leader. The power struggle between opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and President Macky Sall has led to violent demonstrations, damaging Senegal's reputation as the most stable democracy in West Africa. The government justifies the ban by claiming that TikTok is used to spread "hateful and subversive messages." The move has sparked concerns about the impact on online sales and communication, as well as freedom of expression in the country.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has submitted a list of 28 ministerial nominees to the Senate for approval, including a former member of the main opposition party. The list, unveiled two days before the deadline, consists of former governors, economists, health experts, lawyers, and Tinubu's allies. The nominees also include a former governor who did not support the opposition party's candidate in the recent election. Tinubu's list is shorter than usual, as presidents typically appoint at least 36 ministers to ensure representation from all 36 states in Nigeria.