Who is jailed Turkish opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu?

Ekrem Imamoglu, the troubled mayor of Istanbul, has been chosen as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate for the upcoming 2028 presidential election.

Imamoglu, who was detained on Wednesday, is widely regarded as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s front-runner. His arrest has sparked widespread protests, with the majority centered in major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, which have been ongoing for a while.

Imamoglu’s political career is briefly outlined below.

education and early life

• Imamoglu was born in Trabzon, northeastern Turkiye, on June 4, 1970.
• From Istanbul University, he received a master’s degree in human resources management and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Istanbul mayor elected

• He joined one of Turkiye’s largest political parties, the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
• He was the Beylikduzu district mayor of Istanbul from 2014 to 2019.
• He defeated the candidate for Istanbul’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to become mayor in 2019. Initial annulment was achieved, but he prevailed in a replay.
• He was imprisoned for two years, seven months, and was prohibited from politics in 2022 because he insulted the Election Council when the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election was canceled. The ban is pending, and he filed an appeal.

Annullation of a university degree

Imamoglu’s bachelor’s degree was voided by Istanbul University on March 18, 2025 due to violations of the Council of Higher Education’s regulations. Due to Turkish law, a candidate must have at least a degree from a higher education before being eligible to run for president, so this annulment would put his presidential eligibility in jeopardy.

protests and arrests

Imamoglu was detained and charged with corruption, leading a criminal organization, and supporting the PKK on March 19, 2025. This resulted in widespread demonstrations that continue today.

Candidate for president of the CHP

Imamoglu was chosen as Imamoglu’s presidential candidate on March 24, 2025. 2028 will be the next election that is scheduled. However, it is believed that early elections are possible.