Turkish police have detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a move that experts say is aimed at removing all possible contenders ahead of the next presidential election and further stretching President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule. Over 100 others connected to the mayor were also detained in corruption and terror investigations.
Opposition leaders condemned the move as politically motivated, while Erdogan’s allies defended the crackdown. Imamoglu has been a major threat to Erdogan, who extended his rule into a third decade after winning a knife-edge presidential election in 2023.
Erdogan is likely trying to extend his rule into a third term, and experts say that detaining Imamoglu could increase sympathies for him and make him appear as a nationally known political hero. The CHP has called for protests by its headquarters and provincial offices across the country in response to Imamoglu’s detention.
The situation highlights Erdogan’s efforts to consolidate power ahead of the next presidential election, which is expected to be fiercely contested. Experts warn that detaining opposition leaders could backfire and ultimately benefit the opposition. As one expert noted, “arresting your top opponent never works out well.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/19/europe/turkey-imamoglu-detained-erdogan-analysis-intl/index.html