Turkey's Imamoglu warns of democratic crisis if barred from election
3 Min Read
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu says Turkey’s democratic opposition must unite behind an alternative candidate if he is banned from contesting the 2028 presidential election.
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Protesters shout slogans during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Berlin, Germany, on March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strongest political challenger, has signaled he would endorse an alternative candidate if legal barriers prevent him from contesting Turkey’s next presidential election.
During his first interview with foreign media since his March arrest, Imamoglu said "democratic legitimacy" was at stake. While he still hopes to represent the opposition alliance, "it is not the time for hesitation," he said through written responses provided by his advisors.
"I am not naïve. If I am formally barred, the democratic opposition must still come together," he said, adding, "If the path forward requires another candidate, that person must carry forward our collective vision for justice, prosperity, and peace."
Imamoglu has been in jail for nearly five months, facing charges including corruption, supporting terrorism, and threatening a prosecutor. His arrest followed a ruling that annulled his university diploma issued more than three decades ago, stripping him of the qualifications required to run for president.
While he has not been formally banned from politics, ongoing cases could lead to disqualification. Imamoglu denies all wrongdoing, calling the legal actions "a transparent attempt” to sideline him from politics. "The regime chose to weaponize bureaucracy,” he said, describing the series of cases as "Kafkaesque.”
His detention has drawn criticism from international rights groups, but limited political backlash inside Turkey. The lira fell sharply following his arrest, costing the country $50 billion in reserves, though most losses were later recovered.
Erdogan maintains tight grip on politics and foreign policy
After more than two decades in power, Erdogan continues to control policy across domestic and international issues, from Ukraine and Syria to migration and energy corridors. While currently closer to US leadership under Donald Trump, Erdogan has also strengthened ties with Russia, China, and Gulf states.
By contrast, Imamoglu has positioned himself as a pro-European reformist, pledging more liberal, transparent governance and closer alignment with democratic allies.
Within Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), pressure has mounted since the opposition’s strong showing in the 2024 local elections. Hundreds of officials in opposition-led municipalities have been detained in a sweeping corruption probe.
Erdogan has accused CHP leaders of "pinning their hopes” on public protests in support of Imamoglu. "They are trying to cover up their crimes by undermining our judicial institutions,” he said.
A court ruling on September 8 will determine whether the CHP’s 2023 congress, which elevated Imamoglu ally Ozgur Ozel to party leader, was legally valid. Ozel has emerged as a possible consensus presidential candidate if Imamoglu is barred, though he has previously ruled himself out. Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas is also considered a strong potential challenger, and both have expressed solidarity with Imamoglu since his arrest.
In the 2023 presidential election, former CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu lost to Erdogan, despite polls suggesting Imamoglu or Yavas could have performed better. Imamoglu warned international leaders not to ignore political repression in Turkey.
"To leaders in Washington, Berlin, London, and elsewhere: if you want a stable Turkey that is part of the global democratic family, then you must not look away when democracy is dismantled before your eyes," he said.
