The decision to arrest Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and revoke his academic degree, effectively preventing him from running in future presidential elections in Turkey, constitutes an abuse of governmental power. Stripping the Istanbul mayor of the possibility to continue in his position and to run in the national elections—while he is a leading candidate in the polls for the presidency—marks yet another low point in Turkey’s slide toward autocratic rule. İmamoğlu, who was elected for his first term as Istanbul’s mayor in 2019 after a positive campaign under the slogan "Everything will be fine", is now tarnished with accusations of corruption and collaboration with the Kurdish underground. The timing of this move can be explained by the fact that he was expected to be soon nominated as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), and by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s desire to eliminate the threat he poses at an early stage in his national political career.
İmamoğlu’s arrest sparked a wave of protests across Turkey and led to a sharp decline in the value of the Turkish lira, indicating that this was not a simple move for the government. Therefore, a deeper explanation is required, beyond the simple issue of timing. One explanation suggests that Erdoğan does not believe the long-term cost of this action will be high. He assumes he can suppress protests by declaring curfews and disrupting social media networks. Additionally, he relies on the assumption that, on the international stage, aside from symbolic condemnations, Turkey will continue to be a sought-after partner for the West, regardless of the level of internal repression. This perspective is partly based on the “Trump effect” and the shockwaves Europe has experienced.
Another explanation focuses on Erdoğan’s insecurity in light of unflattering polls for him and his party. In theory, following Turkey’s achievements in Syria, its success in combating the Kurdish underground, and the Kurdish leader’s call to lay down arms, Erdoğan’s position should have been strengthened. However, the fact that he is not content with these achievements and is instead taking extreme measures to weaken the opposition, reflects poor judgment, which could lead to dangerous consequences, including in Turkey’s foreign relations.
The decision to arrest Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and revoke his academic degree, effectively preventing him from running in future presidential elections in Turkey, constitutes an abuse of governmental power. Stripping the Istanbul mayor of the possibility to continue in his position and to run in the national elections—while he is a leading candidate in the polls for the presidency—marks yet another low point in Turkey’s slide toward autocratic rule. İmamoğlu, who was elected for his first term as Istanbul’s mayor in 2019 after a positive campaign under the slogan "Everything will be fine", is now tarnished with accusations of corruption and collaboration with the Kurdish underground. The timing of this move can be explained by the fact that he was expected to be soon nominated as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), and by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s desire to eliminate the threat he poses at an early stage in his national political career.
İmamoğlu’s arrest sparked a wave of protests across Turkey and led to a sharp decline in the value of the Turkish lira, indicating that this was not a simple move for the government. Therefore, a deeper explanation is required, beyond the simple issue of timing. One explanation suggests that Erdoğan does not believe the long-term cost of this action will be high. He assumes he can suppress protests by declaring curfews and disrupting social media networks. Additionally, he relies on the assumption that, on the international stage, aside from symbolic condemnations, Turkey will continue to be a sought-after partner for the West, regardless of the level of internal repression. This perspective is partly based on the “Trump effect” and the shockwaves Europe has experienced.
Another explanation focuses on Erdoğan’s insecurity in light of unflattering polls for him and his party. In theory, following Turkey’s achievements in Syria, its success in combating the Kurdish underground, and the Kurdish leader’s call to lay down arms, Erdoğan’s position should have been strengthened. However, the fact that he is not content with these achievements and is instead taking extreme measures to weaken the opposition, reflects poor judgment, which could lead to dangerous consequences, including in Turkey’s foreign relations.