Türkiye: Mass protests against the detention of Erdogan rivals

After the detention and temporary dismissal of the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, the protests in Turkey expand. In several cities in the country, hundreds of thousands passed through the streets, including – despite the ban on demonstration – also in Istanbul and Ankara. According to reports, the police reported to the demonstrators late in the late evening. Imamoglus party CHP chose him shortly before despite the detention as a presidential candidate.

The Mayor of Istanbul is considered the most promising challenger of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the election scheduled for 2028. He was arrested on Wednesday in connection with corruption and terrorist investigation and was finally transferred to custody on Sunday due to allegations of corruption. In addition, terrorist investigations are led against him. Since the arrest, there have been nationwide protests – now the fifth day in a row.

Imamoglu himself denies all allegations and, for his part, accuses the government of wanting to investigate as a political rival cold stations. The Ministry of the Interior recognized the mayor’s office because of the pre -trial detention. The ministry spoke of a “temporary” step. According to media reports, he was brought to a prison in Silivri.

Great approval for imamoglu in the event of party -internal coordination

Despite the pre-trial detention, 1.6 million of the 1.7 million CHP members for Imamoglu voted as a presidential candidate in a party-internal coordination, as party leader Özgür Özel said at a rally in Istanbul in the evening. Özel spoke of a “historical choice”. However, because of the investigations against Imamoglu, which the country has been upset for days, there is a great question mark behind the political future of the 53-year-old.

In addition, the party had set up so -called solidarity choice boxes – there people symbolically gave their voice for imamoglu. According to Özel, after counting of a little more than half of the solidarity urns, one would already come to more than 13 million symbolic voices for imamoglu. Turkey has 85.6 million inhabitants.

The election in which Imamoglu was the only candidate that was scheduled for his arrest. The party then symbolically opened them for non-party members. The official candidate is only imamoglu when the Turkish electoral authority YSK, which is considered by the government, confirms its candidacy. If the investigation is not set, the acceptance of its candidacy is unlikely.

In addition, Imamoglu had been revoked his university degree a day before he was arrested. This is a prerequisite for a candidacy for the presidential office. Surveys have so far predicted good chances against the Erdogan, which has been alternating at the top of the state since 2003 as head of government or president.

CHP boss speaks of one million demonstrators in Istanbul

Hundreds of thousands came to the protest on Sunday evening in the metropolis of Istanbul in front of the city administration in Sarachane-Platz. The CHP boss spoke of one million participants. There are no information about the size of the demonstrations of local authorities. In Ankara, too, thousands of people report on the protests. According to the Interior Ministry, around 700 people were arrested.

“Erdogan: Now it is enough”

“I greet the millions that have raised their voice on Sarachane Platz this evening and in the places all over my country,” it said in a statement published on Imamoglus X-account. “You said Erdogan:” Now it’s enough! “

The mayors of the Istanbul municipalities of Beylikdüzü and Sisli were also stopped, and a forced administrator was determined in Sisli. It is still unclear whether a government -related trustee is being used for the politically significant metropolis of Istanbul.

Meanwhile, France criticized Imamoglus as a serious restriction of democracy. Compliance with the rights of chosen oppositional, freedom of demonstration and freedom of freedom of expression are the cornerstone of the rule of law. Turkey has also promised engagement as an EU candidate in these points, the French Foreign Ministry warned.