Turkey Arrests Istanbul Mayor And Erdogan Presidential Rival Ekrem Imamoglu

Last Updated:March 19, 2025, 17:07 IST

The move against the two-term mayor caps a months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures across the country which has been criticised as a politicised attempt to hurt their electoral prospects.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu (AFP)

Turkey detained Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, on charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist group in what the main opposition party on Wednesday called "a coup against our next president".

The move against the two-term mayor caps a months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures across the country which has been criticised as a politicised attempt to hurt their electoral prospects.

Turkey’s lira currency crashed as much as 12% to an all-time low of 42 to the dollar in response, underscoring worries over the eroding rule of law in the major emerging market and NATO member country that Erdogan has run for 22 years.

Imamoglu, 54, who leads Erdogan in some opinion polls, was to be named his Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) official presidential candidate within days. He now faces two separate investigations that also include charges of leading a crime organisation, bribery and tender rigging.

Though authorities temporarily banned protests and police shut down some city streets, about 100 people gathered at the police station to which Imamoglu was taken and chanted: "The day will come when the AKP is called to account".

Larger protests were also planned in what could test authorities’ willingness to expand a legal blitz that already includes numerous indictments, the ousting of several elected opposition mayors and the jailing of a nationalist party leader.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel urged opposition unity and said his party will go ahead and select Imamoglu as presidential candidate on Sunday irrespective.

"Turkey is going through a coup against the next President. We are facing a coup attempt here," Ozel said.

In a video posted on social media as he prepared to leave his home for detention on Wednesday morning, Imamoglu said he would not give up and would withstand the pressure.

The next election is set for 2028 but Erdogan has reached his two-term limit as president after having earlier served as prime minister. If he wishes to run again he must call an early election before his term ends, or change the constitution.

Erdogan faced his worst electoral defeat in nationwide municipal elections last year when Imamoglu’s CHP swept Turkey’s major cities and defeated his ruling AK Party (AKP) in former strongholds.

"Ultimately, today’s developments highlight that no matter the cost, Erdogan’s personal agenda remains the top priority, with everything else taking a backseat," said Wolfango Piccoli, co-president at advisory Teneo.

The government denies the opposition charges and says the judiciary is independent. It is meanwhile pressing to end a decades-long insurgency by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) after its jailed leader called for disarmament last month, in what could be a big step toward regional peace.

STOCKS DOWN

Human Rights Watch called the charges against the mayor "politically motivated and bogus," and said he must be released immediately.

Erdogan’s office did not immediately comment when asked about claims that the detention was a political move.

The Istanbul prosecutor’s office said a total of 100 people including journalists and business people are suspected of being involved in criminal activities related to certain tenders awarded by the municipality, as part of the first investigation.

It said a second probe charged Imamoglu and six others with aiding the PKK, which is deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies.

Last month, the PKK declared a ceasefire in response to jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call for disarmament, marking a big step toward ending an insurgency that has left more than 40,000 dead, and that could have regional security and political ramifications.

A government appointee could replace the mayor given he was detained as part of a terrorist probe.

It came a day after another blow to Imamoglu: Istanbul University annulled his degree, which if upheld would block him from running in presidential elections.

Imamoglu’s detention sent Istanbul stocks down more than 5% and sparked one of lira’s worst intraday plunges on record. The shock could curb a rate-cutting cycle and slow a fall in inflation, which dipped to 39% last month, analysts said.

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