Millions of Turks stood behind the arrest mayor of Istanbul as a presidential candidate
Ozgur Josel, the leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said nearly 15 million people have supported in the internal party elections today Ekrem Imamoglu to become their presidential candidate. According to him, the party voices are about a million and 750,000, the rest are sympathizers.
Imamoglu was arrested on accusations of corruption, the court left him in prison until the beginning of the trial against him and removed him – as well as two of his deputies – from the mayoral post in Istanbul.
The mayor of Istanbul has announced that he will not « tend head » after the court’s decision
In a speech to the crowd, gathered at Sarachhane Square in front of the municipality, Josel criticizes the media « who do not allow the people’s voice to be heard on this historic night – we will declare everyone who wins ratings from us but serve the presidential palace. » He also warned the advertisers of these media that he was calling on the sympathizers to start a consumer boycott and not buy anything from them.
The mayor and the party supporters protest in several places in the country mostly peaceful, but there were clashes with police in Istanbul. Ri -nd their gathering parts have worn the gathered despite the ban on demonstrations, using a hot spray and water cannons.
Imamoglu refuses to acknowledge any guilt and what is happening, massively perceived as an attempt by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for 22 years to eliminate his most serious political opponent, may ignite the largest protests in the country for more than a decade, Reuters commented. The main opposition party, European leaders and tens of thousands of protesters criticized the actions against him as politicized and undemocratic.
Thousands of CHP members and non -members flocked to the polling stations across the country. The participation of non -party voters with the so -called. « Voices of Solidarity » is carefully observed as an indicator of what support the widely popular Imamoglu is beyond the right of the party.
Is a prohibition on protests? Imamoglu’s arrest threw Turkey into the unknown
He called the accusations he was facing, « unimaginable slander » and called for nationwide protests on Sunday. « We will tear this coup, this gloomy spot on our democracy, all together, » he said.
- According to the media, he was taken to Silivri prison with a police convoy.
- Imamoglu was removed from office with two other mayors, the interior ministry said.
- The government denies investigations being politically motivated and says the courts are independent.
- The national ban on street gatherings was extended on Saturday with four more days, but protests and clashes with police continued at night in big cities.
- Thousands gathered in front of the court building at night and early Sunday, waiting for decisions against Imamoglu.
The court said that 54-year-old Imamoglu and at least 20 others were detained as part of an corruption investigation, one of the two formed against him last week. It says he was arrested for « creating and managing a criminal organization, accepting bribes, misappropriation, illegal recording of personal data and manipulating public auctions in connection with a financial investigation ».
| Six of the 27 CHP mayors have already been arrested-a year after opposition parties inflicted the most severe election of the municipal elections to the Erdogan Party. |
CHP President Ozgur Josel predicts millions of votes from non -he1, saying that Imaglu is « on his way to prison, but also to the presidency. » The regular general election should be in 2028. Imamoglu leads to Erdogan in some sociological studies.
