What we should know about Ekrem Imamoglu, the imprisoned leader of Turkey’s political opposition? | Latest in Political Affairs
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The embattled mayor of Istanbul is the opposition party’s candidate for the next presidential election, scheduled to take place in 2028.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the embattled mayor of Istanbul, has been selected as the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate for the next presidential election in 2028.
Imamoglu, who was detained on Wednesday, is considered the leading challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his arrest has sparked widespread protests, primarily concentrated in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
A brief overview of Imamoglu’s political journey is provided below.(Al Jazeera)
Early life and education
Imamoglu was born in Trabzon, northeastern Turkiye, on June 4, 1970.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in human resources management from Istanbul University.
Elected mayor of Istanbul
In 2008, he joined the Republican People’s Party (CHP), one of Turkiye’s main political parties.
From 2014 to 2019, Imamoglu served as the mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district.
In 2019, he was elected the mayor of Istanbul, defeating the AK Party’s candidate. Following initial annulment, he won in a rerun.
In 2022, he received a two-year and seven-month prison sentence and was banned from politics for insulting the Election Council during the annulment of the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election; he is currently appealing the ruling and ban.
University degree annullment
On March 18, 2025, Istanbul University annulled Imamoglu’s bachelor’s degree citing irregularities. This jeopardizes his presidential eligibility as Turkish law mandates candidates to possess a higher education degree to run for president.
Arrest and protests
On March 19, 2025, Imamoglu was arrested and charged with corruption, assisting the PKK, and leading a criminal organization. This led to ongoing protests.
CHP presidential candidate
On March 24, 2025, Imamoglu was elected as the CHP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 election. However, early elections are considered probable.
