ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE
Article Published on: 25TH MAR 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com
Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s mayor and key opposition figure, has been officially nominated as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate for Turkey’s 2028 presidential election. The nomination, confirmed by a CHP spokesperson on Monday, follows a symbolic primary that saw 15 million voters participate.
Imamoglu’s candidacy comes amid escalating political tensions. Just days before his nomination, he was arrested, interrogated, imprisoned, and removed from office over graft and terror allegations—charges the opposition calls a political “coup.” His arrest sparked nationwide protests, spreading to over 55 provinces in Turkey, leading to mass demonstrations and clashes with riot police.
Analysts suggest President Erdogan, in power since 2003, fears Imamoglu as a serious electoral threat. France condemned his imprisonment as an attack on democracy. Meanwhile, Turkish authorities responded by blocking hundreds of social media accounts, further intensifying political unrest.