Turkish opposition party CHP has chosen jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as its presidential candidate for 2028 elections. Over 15 million voters supported Imamoglu in a primary organized by the main opposition party, amid massive protests over his arrest. The arrests of Imamoglu and several journalists have sparked widespread criticism against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.
Imamoglu was formally jailed on Sunday, exacerbating the unrest. Critics argue that the looming primary triggered the arrest, but the government claims it is not politically motivated. CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel said the primary results have made Erdogan’s legitimacy questionable and led to an inevitable early election ballot box.
Imamoglu has denied all allegations and called for more nationwide protests. He expressed happiness over the “record level of participation” in the primary. However, the government responded by detaining hundreds of social media accounts suspected of inciting hatred, suspending several opposition-linked accounts, and condemning protesters for stoking instability.
Protests continued on Monday morning with clashes between police and demonstrators. At least three journalists were detained, and police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters. The government has deployed a large security presence across Istanbul and nearby areas to maintain public order.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/24/jailed-imamoglu-elected-turkish-oppositions-presidential-candidate