Ankara Mayor Calls for Early Presidential Elections Following Imamoglu's Arrest

Ankara – SABA:

Opposition Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş called on Sunday for early presidential elections in Turkey amid the ongoing developments following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet quoted Yavaş as saying: "Had these events (the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor) not occurred today, perhaps there wouldn’t have been such a large turnout (in the opposition’s primary elections to determine a candidate for a potential presidential race). In other words, when you do something unlawful, the backlash is immense. I hope early elections become an example for Turkey. Because obstructing your opponent is undemocratic... The time has come for early elections. These young people have never seen another government since their birth."

The currently detained Istanbul mayor is the only presidential candidate from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s largest opposition party, and is considered the main rival to current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—should he run again (which is only possible if early elections are called with the approval of 360 parliament members). However, the Turkish constitution only allows university graduates to run for the presidency.

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç had previously stated that Erdoğan is eligible to run for a third term if parliament decides to hold early elections.

To declare early elections, 360 parliamentary votes are required. Currently:

• The CHP holds 127 seats.
• The ruling AKP-MHP alliance holds 315 seats.

Turkish news channel Sözcü TV reported on Sunday that a Turkish court had ordered the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu over corruption allegations, while a separate request for his arrest in a terrorism investigation was rejected, according to Star newspaper, citing official sources.

Several senior municipal officials were also detained alongside İmamoğlu, with over 90 individuals under investigation in the case. Halk TV reported that İmamoğlu may appeal the arrest decision.

Meanwhile, Istanbul’s public prosecutor’s office plans to challenge the court’s rejection of İmamoğlu’s arrest in the terrorism case, as reported by Sabah newspaper. The final decision rests with the Constitutional Court.

The Turkish Interior Ministry confirmed that İmamoğlu has been temporarily suspended from his duties as mayor.