Ekrem İmamoğlu jailed, Turkey on the road to dictatorship?
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The likely main challenger to Erdogan’s presidency has been accused of corruption, support for terrorism and electoral fraud. Ekrem İmamoğlu is the most popular politician in Turkey. His chances of winning the presidential election were high. So great that Erdoğan had to do something. This is in line with what happens to anyone else who challenges a dictator. They are imprisoned, accused of something they probably didn’t do. The charges against Ekrem İmamoğlu probably put him out of the presidential election.
The road to dictatorship
President Erdogan has brought Turkey closer to a dictatorship. The imprisonment of journalists and political opponents under Erdogan is strikingly high. Turkey is in the process of becoming a new Russia or Belarus. In other words, a country that, on paper, has a president and national assembly, elected by the people through free elections. Common to all three countries is the imprisonment of political opponents. False accusations against them and imprisonment of journalists.
Ekrem İmamoğlu was the favorite to win the election. That was before the charges against him. Now it’s questionable whether he can run for president, given the serious charges against him.
Turkey is experiencing a major economic crisis due to Erdogan’s economic policies. Prices are skyrocketing and the Turkish currency is in free fall. The fact is that Erdogan is very unpopular among the people. They feel his economic policies on a daily basis. They also know how freedom of expression has been curtailed.
The people’s support for Ekrem İmamoğlu
In Istanbul, where Ekrem İmamoğlu is a very popular mayor, people take to the streets to protest against his imprisonment. Ekrem İmamoğlu is also a very popular and respected politician throughout Turkey. In all major cities, people are taking to the streets now to demonstrate against the imprisonment and charges. This is being done even though Erdoğan has attempted a 4-day ban on demonstrations.
“What happens next in Turkey is up to the regime now in power. They can choose to put down the popular uprising by force, or they can choose to release Ekrem İmamoğlu. I’m afraid Erdogan will choose a confrontation. It could lead to Turkey being on fire.