FT News Briefing Turkey’s opposition is under siege
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Sep 15, 2025 Political turmoil in Turkey poses serious challenges for the opposition party, raising questions about the future of democracy. Meanwhile, France sees a curious situation where corporate borrowing costs dip lower than the government’s. In the US, a used car lender faces bankruptcy amid fraud allegations, highlighting vulnerabilities in the subprime lending market. Additionally, China’s export controls on Germanium are forcing defense companies to scramble for new suppliers, highlighting the pressures in international trade.
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France's Debt Market Signals Political Risk
- French corporate borrowing costs have fallen below the French government's, signaling market doubts about sovereign stability.
- Fitch downgraded France partly due to political polarization after another prime minister fell trying to fix the deficit.
Turkey's Opposition Under Sustained Pressure
- Erdogan's government has intensified legal and institutional pressure on the CHP, threatening its leadership and cohesion.
- Weakening the CHP could hollow out Turkey's main opposition and leave Turkish democracy far weaker.
High-Profile Opposition Leaders Targeted
- Andrew England recounts past arrests and legal actions against high-profile opposition figures like Ekrem İmamoğlu.
- He describes fears that courts could install a pro-government leader inside the century-old CHP if Özgür Özel is removed.