Turkey has fallen into a political crisis after authorities arrested Ekrem Imamogul, mayor of Istanbul and top rival of President Receptacle Tayyip Erdogan, on charges of corruption and support terrorism.
The biggest protest in more than a decade has erupted across the country, with Imamoguru being kicked out of his position and imprisoned for several hours before Turkey's major opposition parties designated his candidate in the next presidential election.
Imamoguru denied the accusations and called them politically motivated. Many accused Erdogan of using the court of recognizing the political threat, who has been leading Turkey since 2003 and has called for him to be released.
Who is Ekrem Imamoguru?
Imamogul became the mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's largest urban and economic engine, in 2019, after beating an Erdogan-backed candidate. He was re-elected twice, and several polls suggest that he could beat Erdogan in a head-to-head race for the presidency.
On March 19th, police officers arrested Imamoguru at his home. Four days later, the government took him out of office and jailed him on trial for corruption.
That same day, the Republican People's Party, or CHP, which is the main opposition in Turkey, held a primary election to select Imamoguru as the candidate in the next presidential election. Millions of party members across the country voted, and non-party members voted symbolically to express their support for him.
Imamoguru vowed to fight the government. But his detention is not the only hurdle he faces when seeking presidency. The day before his arrest, his university invalidated his diploma. He also faces many other courts, including those who can see him being temporarily banned from politics. He also has politically motivated, and he is fighting over them in court.
What does the government say?
State prosecutors accused Imamoguru of leading a criminal organization and overseeing bribery, bid rigging and other financial misdeeds at city hall. They also accused them of supporting terrorism through political coordination with pro-Kurdish groups in last year's local elections.
Government officials say the charges are not politically motivated and are calling on Turks to have faith in the courts and wait for legal proceedings to reach conclusions. The government has also issued a protest ban in major cities, restricting access to social media sites and flooded government news channels with leaks aimed at showing Imamoguru's guilt.
Security forces use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protests. Home Minister Ali Yarikaya said more than 1,100 people have been detained in connection with the protests after Imamoguru's arrest, and more than 100 police officers were injured in clashes with demonstrators.
“Several circles these days are trying to try and attack police officers when they disrupt public order and incite street events,” Yerlikaya said in a post on X.
What does this mean for Türkiye's future?
The move against Imamogul is the latest example of what Erdogan critics call his increasingly authoritarian tactics. In his more than 20 years of power, Erdogan has gathered the power of the state in his hands, expanding his influence on the news media and the judiciary.
Erdogan's second term expires in 2028. The Constitution limits the president to two full terms, but if Congress called for an early election and shortened his second mission, he could legally run again.
If Imamoguru, 54, can escape legal trouble, then if it places him in a race that directly corresponds with Erdogan, the president won't say whether he will run, but he has no clear successor and many people expect him to do so.
The value of Turkish stock markets and currency has declined significantly since Imamogul's arrest, but has since recovered some of their losses. However, some investors can avoid the country from fears about in-laws and more unstable possibilities.
Some European leaders have criticized Imamoguru's arrest as anti-democratic, but senior American officials have said little about it.
Recent global events could have put Erdogan in a good position. The Trump administration has expressed little concern about how American partners will govern their country. And, fearing that the US will withdraw its support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, European countries are calling for greater defensive ties with Turkey, which may not want to risk the danger.
Safak Timur contributed the report.
