Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has jailed opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, fueling concerns over the country’s democratic future. Imamoglu, who received nearly 15 million votes to become the Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate, was arrested despite a massive rally in support of him on March 23rd. Thousands of protesters took to the streets outside Istanbul’s city hall, where Imamoglu is the mayor, to show their solidarity with the opposition star politician. Erdogan’s move has raised eyebrows, as it appears he fears facing Imamoglu in the upcoming presidential elections. The incident highlights Erdogan’s grip on power and his attempts to suppress any potential threats to his rule.
Source: https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/03/23/president-erdogan-jails-his-rival-and-endangers-turkeys-democracy