The CHP calls for the detention of Imamoglu a “coup d’etat” while the mayor promises to challenge the invalidation of the diploma, except the presidency.
Turkish police arrested the mayor of Istanbul in the context of what they say are investigations on alleged bonds of corruption and terrorism.
Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested on Wednesday morning, with the Anadolu agency led by the State, the prosecutors said that the prosecutors had published detention mandates for the mayor and around 100 other people.
Imamoglu has published a video saying: “We are faced with great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be discouraged.” He accused the government of “usurping the will” of the people.
The authorities also closed several roads around Istanbul and prohibited demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to prevent protests after the arrest of Imamoglu.
Imamoglu was elected mayor of the largest city in Turkiye in March 2019 in a historic blow to Erdogan and the party of the President of Justice and Development, or Ak Party, who had checked Istanbul for a quarter of a century.
While the AK party prompted to cancel the results of the municipal elections in the city of 16 million, an election repeated several months later, Imamoglu win again.
Imamoglu retained its seat after the local elections last year, in which its Republican People’s Party (CHP) made gains against the AK party. The AK party has always become the dominant winner across the country, which has made it confronted with internal criticism concerning its leadership, its internal rivalries and its strategic orientation.
On Tuesday, a university of Istanbul invalidated the diploma of Imamoglu, actually disqualifying it of the next presidential race, because having a university diploma is an requirement to present itself in the elections under Turkish law.
Imamoglu said he would dispute the decision.
The CHP – The main opposition party – was to have a primary on Sunday where Imamoglu was to be chosen as a candidate in the next elections. It is now unlikely that the vote will take place.
Turkiye’s next presidential vote is scheduled for 2028, but the first elections are possible.
The president of the CHP, Ozgur Ozel, denounced the arrest of Imamoglu as “coup d’etat”.
“Currently, there is a power in place to prevent the nation from determining the next president,” he said. “We are faced with an attempted coup against our next president.”
Sinem Koseoglu of Al Jazeera, Diyarbakir reporting, said that arrested people include journalists and eminent turnover.
“The main opposition figures reacted to the decision saying that it was illegal and illegal,” she said.
Government representatives insist that the courts operate independently and reject the allegations according to which legal actions against opposition figures are politically motivated.
