Wed Mar 26 18:14:55 UTC 2025: ## Istanbul Elects Interim Mayor Amid Ongoing Protests Over Imamoglu’s Imprisonment
**Istanbul, Turkey** – Following the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last week, the city council has elected Nuri Aslan, also from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), as interim mayor. Aslan secured the position after three rounds of voting, narrowly defeating the Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s candidate, Zeynel Abidin Okul. The election prevents the government from appointing a trustee to run the municipality, a move that opposition parties viewed as a “coup attempt.”
Aslan’s appointment comes amidst widespread protests across Turkey sparked by Imamoglu’s arrest on corruption charges. Authorities have cracked down heavily on these demonstrations, detaining over 1,400 people, including 11 journalists, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Seven of the detained journalists remain in custody.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the protests as “street terror” and “provocations,” while government officials deny the legal action against Imamoglu is politically motivated. However, the opposition CHP maintains that the arrest is politically driven and has framed it as an attack on democracy. While the CHP initially organized nightly protests, they announced a pause on Wednesday’s demonstration outside the mayor’s office.
The “terrorism” charge against Imamoglu has been temporarily dismissed, but the ongoing legal proceedings and the government’s response to the ensuing protests have heightened political tensions across the country. Aslan has stated his role is temporary and pledged to return the mayoral office to Imamoglu upon his release. The CHP chairman, Ozgur Ozel, vowed that the struggle against what they see as government overreach will continue.
First Piper 