Erdogan’s Chief Rival Under Criminal Investigation, Turkish Media Reports
Erdogan’s Chief Rival Under Criminal Investigation, Turkish Media Reports.
Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
(Bloomberg) -- Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most significant political rivals.
The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has accused Imamoglu of making “threatening” statements against Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek and his family, according to state-run Anadolu agency. Imamoglu denied the allegations in a post on X.
Imamoglu, a member of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party, is seen as a key contender against Erdogan. He gained national prominence in 2019 after unexpectedly defeating Erdogan’s party in the mayoral election for Turkey’s largest city, a feat he repeated last year. He secured a second term in March, following a closely contested vote, according to polls.
Istanbul’s benchmark equity gauge traded mostly flat after the investigation was reported, having risen as much as 0.7% earlier. The lira fell as much as 0.4% to 35.6049 per dollar, extending losses into a second day.
The Turkish government has increasingly scrutinized opposition-held municipalities since suffering significant losses in key cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Recently, municipal bank accounts have been frozen due to social security debts, restricting local governments' ability to function.
Imamoglu is also facing a separate case for allegedly insulting members of Turkey’s election authority. In the 2019 election, his victory was initially annulled, forcing a re-run. The high-profile opposition figure could face a political ban if his initial prison sentence of two years and seven months is upheld by higher appeals courts.
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