Istanbul Mayor Secures Presidential Nomination Amidst Controversy, Protests
Ekrem Imamoglu, the jailed mayor of Istanbul, has emerged as the leading candidate for Turkey’s main opposition party, the CHP, in the upcoming 2028 presidential election, Al Jazeera reports, citing municipal officials.
The party announced Monday that an estimated 14.7 million people voted for Imamoglu in a recent primary, a figure that includes 1.7 million CHP members and an unprecedented 13 million non-party supporters.
This surge in support comes amidst escalating tensions following Imamoglu’s detention last Wednesday and subsequent formal jailing on Sunday on corruption charges. These events have ignited widespread protests across the nation, with critics alleging that the arrest is politically motivated, designed to impede Imamoglu’s growing popularity as a formidable challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The CHP maintains that the looming primary, which witnessed record-breaking turnout that necessitated a three-and-a-half hour extension of voting, triggered the arrest.
President Erdogan’s government vehemently denies any political interference, insisting on the independence of Turkey’s judiciary.
Despite the controversy, the CHP has doubled down on its support for Imamoglu, formally establishing him as their official presidential candidate. While one anti-terrorism charge against Imamoglu was dismissed, he remains incarcerated in Marmara Prison near Istanbul’s Silivri district, pending trial on the corruption charges.
Imamoglu has vehemently denied all allegations and continues to call for nationwide protests in response to his imprisonment. In a statement released from prison, he expressed his delight at the “record level of participation” in the primary.
