Protests: Türkiye at the turning point? What the dismantling means imamoglus

Turkey has plunged Turkey into a crisis by dismantling Istanbul Mayor and the most important opponents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Thousands have been on the street for democracy since Ekrem Imamoglus – but increasingly increasingly against the government. The demonstrations are greater every day. The government condemns the protests with sharp rhetoric and speaks of “street terror”. Where does the country go?

Who is imamoglu and why was he arrested?

The opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu was imprisoned on Sunday and set off as mayor of the politically and economically most important metropolis in the country, Istanbul. The Imamoglu re -elected in 2024 with 51 percent of the vote is also the most dangerous opponent of Erdogan in an upcoming choice. The regular next elections are to take place in 2028.

Those who rule Istanbul rules Turkey, is a winged word in Turkey that describes the importance of the city. Against corruption and terrorism are investigated against the presidential candidate of the largest opposition party CHP on Sunday. If these are not lifted, a candidacy for president is almost excluded. Imamoglu rejects all allegations.

In a number of other procedures that criticize critics as a political approach, he threatens political bans. The government has the allegations, the investigation served its political advantage strictly. The judiciary does not accept any commands, said Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc. Imamoglu was also revoked his university degree last week – this is also a prerequisite for a presidential candidacy.

How does the government react to the protests?

The largely peaceful protests in the country grow from day to day. The protest also increases in supposed AKP strongholds and the Kurdish southeast. Imamoglus party wants to continue the protest until her party friend is at large, they say. The supporting column of the protests are particularly students in Istanbul and Ankara. Again and again it comes together in the evening protests. Pictures on the net sometimes show brutal approach on the part of the police against demonstrators.

Observers fear that the government will take more hardship against the protest in the coming days. This accuses the opposition to want to plunge the streets into the “chaos”. In Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, for example, any demonstrations are prohibited.

On Monday, the government performed against journalists with a wave of arrests. Organizations also complain about censorship on the Internet with which the government is going to go against critics.

What does this mean for the political landscape in Turkey?

Experts see Turkey on a crossroads between authoritarianism and democracy. Such a large protest movement, which is strong for democracy and an independent judiciary, has not existed in Turkey despite massive legal restrictions.

Hardly anyone doubts that the political calculation of the Erdogan government is behind the procedure against his greatest opponent. The discontinuation of a politician elected with 4.5 million votes and the procedure against numerous other people in connection with corruption and terrorist investigations is an unprecedented process, which observers consider it tightening authoritarian tendencies, the protest should not have any effect.

The imprisonment imamoglus also stands for a further restriction of the elections, which are considered free but not as fair.

Why is it going against Imamoglu now?

While the government defends the rule of law in Turkey, the procedure is considered by many as a calculated train. The country and especially Erdogan see itself internationally in view of the country’s key position in many conflicts in a massively strengthened position.

In the Ukraine War, Erdogan is one of the few politicians who have a good connection to the Russian and the Ukrainian President. In Syria, Turkey is one of the most important foreign actors after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. In addition, President Donald Trump has been able to expect less criticism from the United States since President Donald Trump took office.

Some observers now see the hard procedure against the opposition as a sign of new elections. According to the current constitution, Erdogan may not compete as a presidential candidate at the regular election date 2028 – unless the parliament votes for early elections.

Erdogan’s party and their government partners, however, would need votes from other parties – for example from the Prourdische Demner party, which stands at the head of a new peace initiative between the PKK and Turkish state. With the prospect of using the decades of conflict, Erdogan can secure support for the path to a new candidacy.