Turkey's Constitutional Court Initiates Election for New President

The Turkish Constitutional Court launched its presidential election on October 22, two months ahead of the scheduled end of Kadir Özkaya's twelve-year term on December 22. Although Özkaya will manage the election logistics, he cannot stand for re-election due to term limits. Members of the court will vote in a General Assembly, and a candidate must obtain an absolute majority of at least eight out of fifteen votes to serve a four-year term; if no one reaches this threshold, voting will continue until a winner emerges.

In parallel, the Istanbul Bar Association is set to conduct its own leadership vote on October 24-25, with nine contenders including current president İbrahim Kaboğlu, who faces a court-ordered removal but is seeking re-election, and former president Ümit Kocasakal. The bar association's election follows a recent appeals-court decision upholding the acquittal of Kaboğlu and his board in a criminal case.