In a dramatic escalation of Turkey's political turmoil, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been arrested on corruption charges and links to a terrorist group, just days before he was expected to be nominated as the main opposition candidate for the 2028 presidential election. The arrest, occurring on March 19, 2025, sends shockwaves through the Turkish political landscape as opposition parties fiercely condemn the government's actions.
The Turkish government has accused İmamoğlu of engaging in bribery and supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies. Alongside İmamoğlu, more than 100 individuals—including journalists and business figures—were rounded up in a sweeping police operation. This crackdown appears aimed at stifling dissent as authoritarianism increasingly grips the nation.
On March 18, the day prior to his arrest, Istanbul University revoked İmamoğlu's bachelor's degree, a development seen by many as an attempt to prevent him from participating in electoral politics, as Turkish law requires candidates to be university graduates. The swift revocation of his degree coincides with the growing fears among the political elite of İmamoğlu’s rising stature as a formidable opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has held power for 22 years.
“The will of the people cannot be silenced,” İmamoğlu declared on social media, reaffirming his stance against the charges. Meanwhile, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), to which İmamoğlu belongs, has hailed the arrest as “a coup attempt against the next President.” CHP leader Özgür Özel emphasized the threat posed by Erdoğan, stating, “They can do any evil. We are ready for any evil they can do. Because it is clear that the issue is not a political struggle, but a matter of existence or non-existence for the country.”
In response to the unrest, Istanbul authorities implemented a four-day demonstration ban and restricted access to social media platforms such as X, YouTube, and Instagram. Despite these measures, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Istanbul, expressing their outrage at the perceived political repression. Protests erupted outside police headquarters and the headquarters of the CHP, where demonstrators denounced the actions as unlawful and an affront to democracy.
However, this tumult has not only political ramifications but also economic ones. Following İmamoğlu's arrest, the Turkish lira plummeted to an all-time low against the dollar, and the Istanbul stock market experienced a significant drop of over 5%. As Turkey grapples with stagnating growth and an inflation rate hovering around 50%, the political instability introduced by these events further exacerbates the crisis.
The timing of İmamoğlu’s arrest raises questions about Erdoğan's intentions as he faces his own declining popularity in light of recent municipal elections where his party fell to second place behind the CHP. Experts speculate that this crackdown could be part of a broader strategy to maintain Erdoğan's grip on power, allowing him to claim Istanbul's mayoralty again through a hand-picked successor should İmamoğlu be barred from holding office.
In an unexpected twist, the government is currently promoting Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, as a potential peace broker. This stark contrast presents a perplexing narrative, as Erdoğan targets opposition figures like İmamoğlu for collaborating with a group that he coyly presents as being open to peace. Critics argue this maneuvering may be an underhanded tactic to garner Kurdish support for changes that could allow Erdoğan to extend his rule further.
As the opposition scrambles to respond, voices from Europe have chimed in. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her deep concern regarding İmamoğlu's detention, reiterating that Turkey, as a candidate for EU membership, is required to uphold democratic principles. “Turkey must uphold the democratic values, especially the rights of elected officials,” she stated firmly, underscoring the international implications of the situation.
The combination of patriotic fervor, economic distress, and political strife has ignited a firestorm within Turkey, with the latest tensions potentially altering the course of its democratic future. As the opposition rallies behind İmamoğlu, the repercussions of the government's actions could resonate for years to come, shaping not just the presidential race in 2028, but the very fabric of Turkish politics.
Moving forward, the key question remains—can İmamoğlu rally enough support to combat the judicial and political obstacles placed before him? The outcome of these struggles may very well define the future of democracy in Turkey, as citizens increasingly demand accountability from their leaders amid cries for justice and transparency from the streets of Istanbul.
