Ümit Kocasakal elected President of Istanbul Bar Association

Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocasakal, representing the Republican Power Unity Alliance (Cumhuriyetçi Güç Birliği İttifakı), has been elected as the new president of the Istanbul Bar Association for the 2026-2028 term. Following the 128th Ordinary General Assembly held at the Haliç Congress Center, unofficial election results indicate Kocasakal secured approximately 9,548 votes.

Kocasakal, who previously served as president from 2010 to 2016, defeated the incumbent president, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu of the Lawyers for Change Group (Değişim İçin Avukatlar Grubu), who received approximately 6,607 votes. Atakan Adem Selanik of the Republican Lawyers Group finished third.

In his victory speech, Kocasakal stated, “Istanbul Bar Association has returned,” emphasizing that the institution will act as a guardian of the Republic’s fundamental principles and the unitary structure of the state. He pledged to protect the rights of all colleagues regardless of identity or political views.

The general assembly was marked by tension during the first day, involving debates over protocol and demonstrations by various groups, including the display of an LGBT+ flag which led to confrontations and a brief recess.