The struggle for power remains a sensitive issue in all countries, regardless of their level of democratic development. So, what led to the arrest of the main opponent of Turkey’s current president, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu?

The Motivation Behind İmamoğlu’s Arrest: Government vs. Opposition Perspectives

What was the reason for the March 19 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu? According to reports circulating in the media, Turkish authorities accuse the popular opposition figure from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) of corruption and ties to terrorist organizations.

The official stance is that the mayor of Istanbul — a key financial and business hub in Turkey — allegedly facilitated money laundering and other illegal financial operations by certain companies. Specifically, subsidiaries of the Istanbul municipality (such as Medya AŞ, Kültür AŞ, KİPTAŞ, and ISFALT) reportedly won municipal tenders in violation of the law, inflated service prices, and profited from these schemes. The work carried out by these companies was often allegedly incomplete or fictitious, with funds being misappropriated for personal enrichment.

Additionally, both during and after the election period, İmamoğlu maintained contacts with Kurdish political forces, including representatives of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). Through these connections, he is said to have formed a “citywide consensus” and engaged with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey — with the alleged aim of influencing national and municipal election results.

The arrest of the opposition leader just days before March 24 — when Turkey was set to hold primaries for the next presidential election — was perceived by some of the public and the opposition as a political crisis orchestrated by Erdoğan. The move was seen as an attempt to prevent a strong contender from participating in upcoming (whether regular or early) presidential elections. As a result, mass protests erupted in........

© New Eastern Outlook