A Turkish court on Sunday sentenced the mayor of Istanbul to the mayor of Istanbul on Sunday, pending corruption charges, which sets a potential contender for Turkey's next presidential election far from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's top rival, according to the state-run Anadolu News Agency.
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested at his home for four days on Wednesday, when he was appointed presidential candidate for the Turkish political opposition. He denied the allegations against him, and Mr. Erdogan's opponents called for tactics to prevent popular politicians from running for president.
State-run news media said the court ordered Mr Imamogru to be sentenced to jail on charges of corruption. State prosecutors accused him of leading a criminal organization at City Hall and overseeing bribery, bidding and other financial misconduct.
Prosecutors also accused him of supporting terrorism during the local elections last year with a pro-Kurdian group. The court has not yet ruled whether he was also sentenced to jail for the allegations.
Mr Imamogru, who has been elected mayor three times since 2019, raised the possibility of removing him from the office.
Mr. Erdogan, who ruled critics of Turkish politics for more than two decades, has long accused him of using state power to undermine his rivals. But, they say, arresting presidential contenders eliminated him from the game before they begin, a new kind of authoritarianism.
Some European leaders criticized the mayor's arrest, prompting Türkiye to protest, calling on the Turkish government to uphold the rule of law. Senior U.S. officials hardly said.
President Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff did not mention the mayor's detention in an interview with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, released on X on Saturday. But he said Trump had a recent conversation with Mr. Erdogan. The White House did not have a public phone call at that time.
“There is a lot of good news in Türkiye right now, thanks to the conversation,” Witkov said.
Despite Mr Imamoglu's detention, Türkiye's main opposition, Republican BJP, or CHP, continued on Sunday to formally designate his presidential candidate. Party members voted across the country, and the party called on non-parties to vote to also signify votes in support of the mayor who was sentenced to jail.
Erdogan is currently in office as president, and his second term expires in 2028. While the Constitution limits the president to two terms, if parliament calls for early elections, he can run legally again, cutting his second mission.
Many people in Türkiye expect this to happen. If so, Mr. Imamoglu, 54, may be banned from the competition and cannot challenge Mr. Erdogan, 71.
Mr Imamoglu's imprisonment could undermine the management of Türkiye's largest city. The city employs more than 100,000 employees and oversees many companies that build housing, operate public transportation and carry out infrastructure projects.
Massive protests against Mr Imamogru's detention erupted in various cities in Turkey despite the government's efforts to stop them. The country’s three largest cities have banned public demonstrations, the inner side of society is restricted, and the main transit centers have been closed to hinder the ability of protesters to gather in public squares.
The Interior Ministry said on Saturday that 343 people were arrested during the protests, and the Istanbul governor's office appointed by Erdogan said travelers “could be involved in illegal protests” that would block entry into the city.
Safak Timur Contribution report.
