Political situation in Turkey

Former ambassador: Buried dissatisfaction with the regime

The demonstrations in Turkey may grow further after the news that Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu will remain in custody awaiting trial. This is what Sweden's former ambassador to Turkey Michael Sahlin tells Ekot.

He sees similarities with the major protests in 2013 that spread from Istanbul to other parts of the country.

- It shows that there is pent-up dissatisfaction with Erdogan's rather authoritarian regime, he says.

Analysis: Erdogan takes a step towards outright dictatorship

By having his main challenger arrested, Turkish President Erdogan is transforming his regime into a true autocracy. This is what Le Monde's Nicolas Bourcier writes in an analysis.

He writes that since the founding of the republic in 1923, Turkey has certainly never managed to become a full-fledged democracy.

“But the developments of recent days undoubtedly represent a turning point in the regime’s autocratic and authoritarian development.”

SVT Nyheter’s Tomas Thorén is on the same track. He points out that Erdogan has so far, during his 23 years as president, placed great emphasis on having won power through free, albeit not fair, elections, but that this may now be about to change.

“Erdogan shows no signs of blinking in his step towards outright dictatorship,” he writes.

The Jerusalem Post’s Seth J Franzman writes that the developments in Turkey come at a time when the entire region is facing a crossroads. The US under Trump is strengthening ties to authoritarian regimes and Syria is facing a new regime. Turkey is keen to exploit this to become an even more important player, he writes.

“Therefore, what is happening in Ankara matters.”

Journalists arrested in Turkey – covering the protests

Turkish police have arrested at least ten journalists on Monday, AFP reports, citing the media organization MLSA. Among them is a photographer who works for AFP.

The arrests are said to have taken place in several different cities in connection with the journalists covering the widespread protests that have erupted in the country following the arrest of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu.

The whole thing is condemned by the Disk-Basin-Is trade union, AP reports.

“You cannot hide the truth by silencing journalists!” the union writes on X.

Turkish authorities have previously demanded that hundreds of social media accounts be blocked. 

13 million sympathy votes for Imamoglu after arrest

More than 13.2 million people voted for the imprisoned mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in the Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) primary election on Sunday, AFP reports.

The party has only about 1.5 million members, but the party has urged everyone to vote for Ekrem Imamoglu in sympathy after he was arrested this week. A total of 15 million votes were cast in the election, ten times more than the party has members.

The result of the vote means that it will be the imprisoned mayor who will be the party's presidential candidate in the 2028 election. Imamoglu thanks his lawyers for the support.

“The people will give this government an unforgettable earful,” the statement published on X reads.

That Imamoglu would win the nomination was completely expected.