Imprisoned, the mayor of Istanbul appointed presidential candidate by his party – Liberation

It becomes the symbol of opposition to Erdogan. Accused of « corruption »,, Imprisoned Sunday March 23Ekrem Imamoglu was appointed this Monday, March 24, candidate for his party from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the presidential election in 2028 according to a party spokesman, following primaries organized the day before. Praised by more than fifteen million Turkish voters, including thirteen million not a member of the party, and the only candidate, the mayor of Istanbul was therefore invested without surprise by his camp.

Suspended from his duties on Sunday, the opposition mayor of the capital spent his first night in prison in Silivri, west of Istanbul. Principal opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he refutes the accusations and denounces « An execution without trial ». « I am here. I wear a white shirt and you will not be able to dirty it. My wrist is solid and you will not be able to twist it. I will not go back a thumb. I will win this war ”he said in a message transmitted by his lawyers. The protest does not weaken in Türkiye after the opponent’s incarceration with new calls to demonstrate Monday evening across the country for the sixth consecutive day.

More information to come.