Istanbul elects Aslan interim mayor amid ongoing protests over Imamoglu

Nuri Aslan, who was imprisoned on corruption charges, has been replaced by Istanbul’s municipal government as its interim mayor.

Aslan, a member of Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), was chosen to lead the city while his trial is pending, according to local broadcaster NTV and Turkish news outlet Anadolu on Wednesday.

Aslan received 173 votes in the first round of voting, while Zeynel Abidin Okul, the AK Party candidate for president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, received 123. Aslan received 177 votes in the second round of the election, while Okul received 125.

A third round of voting commenced as both candidates failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority. Aslan received 177 votes in that election, while Okul received 125, ensuring Aslan’s election. Candidates would need a simple majority to win.

Ozgur Ozel, the head of the CHP, claimed that Erdogan’s request to appoint a trustee for the municipality had been thwarted by the interim mayoral election.

One leg will always be in Istanbul and one hand will always be in Sarachane, according to Ozel, adding that public opposition had prevented what the opposition refers to as a “coup attempt” against it. “The struggle will expand to all of Turkiye from now on,” Ozel said.

Aslan reaffirmed that his new position was only temporary while speaking alongside Ozel.

“Our mayor, who was chosen with Istanbul’s support, will return as soon as possible. He said, “We will take care of what he entrusted us with and return it to him” along with our chairman.

Following Imamoglu’s detention a week ago, demonstrations have been occurring all over the country. Despite authorities throttling crowds and arresting hundreds of people, including journalists, his supporters vow to continue protesting.

According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, police had detained 1,418 people by Tuesday afternoon. 11 Turkish journalists who were covering the protests, of which seven were detained, were included.

“Street terrorism”

Erdogan claimed on Wednesday that the main opposition had caused his government to not get upset.

Erdogan has remained defiant despite the protests, calling them “street terror” a week later.

“There is nowhere to go for those who spread terrorism in the streets and want to ignite this nation.” He claimed that their decision is a dead end.

Officials in the government have refuted claims that the opposition figure’s legal action is politically motivated and have argued that Turkiye’s courts are independent.

Imamoglu’s arrest in a graft and “terrorism” investigation, which his supporters have described as a “coup,” led to protests that broke out on March 19. The court has currently dropped the “terrorism” charge.

Since then, large crowds have staged street demonstrations in Istanbul, the country’s capital, Ankara, and Izmir, where the unrest has spread.

The main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), announced a possible tactical shift by saying it would not organize another nightly protest on Wednesday outside the Istanbul mayor’s office.