The Turki detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was called the chief rival of President Tayip Erdogan, on charges of corruption and a terrorist group, which was called “a coup against our next president” in the main opposition party on Wednesday.
This step against the popular two-term mayor cap is capable of a month’s legal action on opposition figures across the country, which has been criticized as a political effort to harm their electoral prospects and silence dissatisfaction.
The Turki’s Lira currency crashed as 12%, in response to the lower level of $ 42, underlining concerns on the abolition rule of law in the major emerging market and NATO member.
The 54 -year -old Imamoglu, who leads Erdogan in some referendum surveys, was to be named as the official presidential candidate of his Republican People’s Party (CHP) within days. He is now facing two different investigations including a crime organization, bribery and allegations of leading tender rigging.
In a handwritten letter shared on social media, the mayor detained said that Turks would respond against them “lies, plots and nets”. Earlier, before leaving home for the police station, he said he would not face pressure.
Justice Minister Yilamaz Tank used Erdogan against the “coup” against Imamoglu’s custody or other legal procedures, using words such as “coup”, and also against road protests.
Although the authorities temporarily banned protests and the police closed some city roads, hundreds of people gathered at the police station and said: “The day will come when (Erdogan’s) AK party is called to the account”.
Any major protest can test the authorities to expand a legal blitz from the end of last year, including already several prosecutions, excluding several elected opposition mayors, and a nationalist party leader.
Election
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said that his party will move forward and will choose Imamoglu as the presidential candidate on Sunday. “The Turkas are going through a coup against the next president. We are facing an coup attempt here,” he said.
The next election has been scheduled for 2028, but Erdogan has reached his two-term limits as President after acting as Prime Minister first. If he wants to run again, he will have to make an initial election or change the constitution.
71 -year -old Erdogan suffered his worst electoral defeat in the nationwide municipal elections last year, when the CHP of Imamoglu pounced in major cities of Turki and defeated its ruling AK party in former strongholds.
Volfango Pikkoli, the co-chairman of Advisory Tenaneo, said, “Finally, today’s developments highlight that the cost does not matter that the cost, Erdogan’s personal agenda is the highest priority, everything else takes everything to the back seat.”
The government denies opposition allegations and says that the judiciary is independent.
At the same time, Ankara tried to end a decades of long rebellion after being called for disarmament of his prison leader last month, which could be a major step towards regional peace.
Nevertheless, the mayor’s custody – allegations that he supported PKK by creating an electoral alliance with the Prof. -Kurd Dame Party last year – may obstruct democratic steps towards ending the rebellion in which more than 40,000 people have been killed.
The third largest party in Parliament, which played an important role in facilitating the disarmament call, said that Imamoglu should be issued to avoid sabotage of the peace process.
Market tumble
The council of Germany, France and Europe criticized Imamoglu’s detention. Human Rights Watch called the allegations “politically motivated and fake”, and said they should be released immediately.
The office of the Istanbul prosecutor said that a total of 100 people, including journalists and businessmen, were suspected of being involved in criminal activities related to some tenders provided by the municipality as part of the first investigation.
It said that in a second investigation, Imamoglu and six others supported PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turki and its western colleagues.
A government appointment can replace the mayor, which can be pending the arrest of any court in the coming days.
Another shock for Imamoglu was detained a day after a day, who had already faced several investigations and prosecuts: Istanbul University canceled its degree, which would be stopped from running in the presidential elections if retained.
His detention sent Istanbul’s shares below 5% and brought one of Lira’s worst intraday dip on records before it settled at $ 1155 GMT at 38. Analysts stated that the shock may curb a rate-cutting cycle and slow down the fall in inflation, which could be submerged by 39% last month.
Bankers said that the Central Bank on Wednesday sold a $ 8–10 billion exchange record to take a lira dip.
