The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested in his home on Wednesday on corruption and terrorism charges.
He’s one of Turkey’s most prominent opposition politicians and was due to become a presidential candidate for the secular Republican People’s Party in Turkey’s next election.
İmamoğlu’s arrest follows court cases brought against him that the opposition says aim to neutralise his political influence.
In a social media video recorded before his arrest, İmamoğlu accused Erdoğan’s government of “usurping the will of the people”.
After the arrest, public demonstrations were banned in the city for four days and two Istanbul subway stations were closed.
Turkey’s next presidential election is scheduled for 2028, but analysts anticipate parliament will call for an earlier vote.
If so, Erdoğan could run for a third term.
Photo credit: ASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images
