Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was sentenced to more than two years in prison and banned from running for public office on Wednesday (14) on charges of insulting officials. It is up to appeal.
Imamoglu is one of the biggest political rivals of President Tayyip Recep Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for nearly two decades. His conviction comes just six months before the presidential elections in the country — he was emerging as one of the main names capable of standing up to the president, accused of rigging institutions and persecuting opponents and the press through judicial channels since he took power.
The accusation against the mayor is based on an episode from 2019, when he was running in the municipal elections. At the time, he said that those who annulled their votes in the election were “fools”, which was considered an attack on the authorities by Justice.
Now, the process must be taken to higher courts, which could drag it beyond the elections, scheduled for June 2023.
Imamoglu did not attend the session where he was sentenced. In a speech, he stated that “a handful of people cannot assume the authority given by the people” and that his struggle and that of his allies is getting stronger.
At his request, a few thousand supporters gathered before the verdict around the city hall, chanting “truth, law, justice”. Police forces stood guard around the courthouse in the meantime.
Imamoglu dealt Erdogan one of the biggest political defeats of his career. In June 2019, he won the ruling candidate in the Istanbul municipal elections after the president’s initials nullified his original victory. The largest city in the country has been ruled by the president and his allies since 1994, when he himself was elected mayor.
Analysts predict that the outcome of the 2023 election depends on the ability of Imamoglu’s party, the CHP (Republican People’s Party), and the rest of the opposition to unite forces around a single candidate to challenge Erdogan and the APK.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
