Political crisis in Turkey over investment fund scandal

On October 7, 2026, a major investment fund scandal in Turkey escalated into a significant political crisis, with opposition leaders alleging widespread corruption involving high-ranking officials of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Zeynel Emre of the New Party publicly questioned AKP spokesman Ömer Çelik regarding his relationship with former bureaucrat Osman Arıkan Nacar, who allegedly fled the country after misappropriating approximately 20 billion Turkish lira from an investment fund. Emre sought clarification on Çelik’s recent vacation and travel history with Nacar.

Simultaneously, opposition leader Özgür Özel accused the inner circle of President Tayyip Erdoğan of being involved in the scandal. Özel claimed that links to the case extend to cabinet ministers, party vice-chairs, and even the president's family, specifically naming Erdoğan’s nephew, Usame Erdoğan. According to the opposition, a company linked to the nephew has connections to Lydia Holding, which serves as a central entity in the ongoing investigation.

While authorities have detained Ali Göl, a business partner of Nacar, the investigation continues amid intense public scrutiny. To date, no official charges or indictments have been issued against any of the high-profile individuals mentioned by the opposition, including the president's nephew or the government officials under fire.