Left-wing politics

Main opposition party SYRIZA announced on Thursday that MP George Katrougalos would not be running in national elections on Sunday, following statements he made in a television interview.

Giorgos Katrougalos, an MP for SYRIZA and a former foreign minister of the party, on Thursday announced his intent to withdraw from the upcoming elections after stating that social contributions for the self-employed may go up in a future SYRIZA government, something the party denied.

In July 2019, a few days after the electoral victory of New Democracy, one photo in the press was discussed more than others. During the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the outgoing minister, Efi Achtsioglou exchanged a warm handshake with the new deputy minister, Domna Michailidou.

The request for the the lifting of the immunity of former SYRIZA MEP Alexis Georgoulis, who has been accused of rape and sexual abuse, will be examined during an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) next Tuesday, May 23. 

At the same extraordinary JURI meeting, the request for waiver of immunity of MEP Maria Spyraki will also be examined. 

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has neutralized the PKK/YPG's finance leader during an operation in Ayn al-Arab district in northern Syria.

Tuba Karakoç, who joined the organization in 2013, has been active in many fields in Türkiye, Iraq and Syria.

The good news is that a public discussion has started on how much the measures and benefits being announced by the political parties if they win the elections are going to cost. That said, the discussion tends to be limited to the old question: Where will the money come from?

The departed but mostly unlamented coalition government, the first version of which was pieced together in February 2020 by four parties in a push to unseat Fico's Smer party following eight years of increasing authoritarianism and corruption, certainly wasn't helped by circumstances.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has neutralized a local leader of the PKK in an operation in Iraq's Duhok governorate.

Eyvaz Beyaz, code-named Zerdeşt Karadeniz, was wanted by Interpol with a red notice and was in the gray category of the Defense Ministry's wanted list.

A parliamentary candidate for the Green Left Party (YSP) has been arrested in the investigation into the far-left Socialist Party of the Oppressed's (ESP) youth organization.

Running for a seat in the Central Anatolian city of Eskişehir, Müslüm Koyun was detained during a raid on his house on April 30. The arrest comes as the country prepares for presidential and general elections.

Police detained three parliamentary candidates of the Green Left Party (YSP) as part of a counter-terrorism operation on April 30.