Opposition in Istanbul Elects Interim Mayor After Imamoglu's Imprisonment
March 26, 2025, 3:33 pm

Opposition in Istanbul Elects Interim Mayor After Imamoglu's Imprisonment

نوري أصلان

The opposition municipal council in Istanbul today elected an interim mayor to manage the city following the imprisonment of the current mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is facing trial on corruption charges that he and his supporters deny, viewing them as "politically motivated" attempts to remove him from the political scene.

Council members, numbering 314 and mostly representing the main opposition party, selected Nuri Aslan as the mayor of Istanbul, receiving 177 votes in support, according to the NTV television station.

Aslan is expected to manage the city's affairs for the remainder of Imamoglu's term, who is considered one of the prominent challengers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The arrest of Imamoglu last week sparked the largest anti-government protests in over a decade, with a widespread crackdown involving hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to protest peacefully.

A Turkish court ruled on Sunday to imprison Imamoglu pending trial on corruption charges he denies.

Despite a ban on gatherings in many cities, anti-government demonstrations occurred with the participation of hundreds of thousands after the Republican People's Party called for people to take to the streets nationwide.

Erdogan stated after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday that the Republican People's Party needs to stop "inciting" citizens.

He added that their "show" will eventually come to an end and they will feel ashamed of the "evil" they have done to their country.

The Republican People's Party describes Imamoglu's arrest as "politically motivated and inconsistent with democratic principles." The government denies the allegations and emphasizes the independence of the judiciary.

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