Turkey's opposition elects acting mayor as Imamoglu remains detained, protests persist
The Turkish president accuses opposition of sabotaging the economy amid ongoing detentions against protestors over the arrest of the Istanbul mayor.
ANKARA — The Istanbul Municipal Council on Wednesday elected Republican People's Party (CHP) member Nuri Aslan as an acting mayor after his superior, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is also from the same main opposition party, was arrested last week, prompting mass protests across Turkey.
Imamoglu, a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and CHP's main presidential contender, was formally arrested over alleged corruption charges on Sunday, fueling further mass protests across Turkey that began after his detention last week. Critics in Turkey believe the arrest was politically motivated, aimed at sidelining an Erdogan rival ahead of presidential elections in 2028, which could take place sooner. The Turkish government denies the accusation, insisting that the judiciary operates independently.
Turkish authorities suspended him from mayoral duties following the court ruling.
Members of Istanbul's 314-member municipal council, where the main opposition holds the majority, elected Nuri Aslan, Imamoglu's former deputy, as the new acting mayor with 177 votes, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
