Erdogan's rival Ekrem Imamoglu arrested days before potential election win

In Turkey, recently appointed mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested just days prior to what many anticipated would be his nomination as the presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. His arrest has sparked widespread concern regarding the state of democracy in Turkey, with many critics labeling this move a coup against the political opposition. Following his detention, protests erupted in Istanbul, where university students voiced their defiance against the authorities, chanting slogans associated with the opposition's resilience. Despite facing banned demonstrations imposed by Istanbul's pro-Erdogan governor, the opposition parties called for further gatherings, indicating that the political landscape remains tense and fraught with fear of governmental intimidation. Imamoglu, a member of the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), had recently secured a second term as Istanbul's mayor, following significant victories for his party in local elections that served as a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's political dominance. Erdogan has held office for over two decades, but concerns about the legitimacy of election processes and judicial independence have been raised in light of the arrests. The CHP has initiated symbolic protests, setting up ballot boxes nationwide as a demonstration of public support for Imamoglu, in an attempt to resist the perceived erosion of democracy in Turkey and challenge Erdogan’s authoritarian measures.