Jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Resigns from CHP to Join Newly Formed Opposition Party

 

Jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Resigns from CHP to Join Newly Formed Opposition Party

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the jailed Mayor of Istanbul and prominent Turkish opposition figure, announced his resignation from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) after 17 years of membership to join the newly formed "New Party." The political reorganization follows a contentious court ruling that removed the previous CHP leadership and reinstated former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

The New Party, established by Özgür Özel alongside 90 breakaway lawmakers, has become the second-largest party in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. İmamoğlu, who was detained in March 2025 and remains in pre-trial detention facing municipal corruption charges he denies, stated via social media that the decision reflects his responsibility toward building an alternative democratic path in Turkish politics.

• Sources & Direct Links:

  • Reuters / Internazionale: Jailed Istanbul mayor Imamoglu joins new opposition party amid political turmoil

  • Asharq Al-Awsat: Jailed Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Joins New Opposition Party Amid Political Turmoil

  • The Arab Weekly: Imamoglu quits CHP, joins new party in fresh challenge to Erdogan

Ekrem İmamoğlu Resigns from CHP to Back Özgür Özel’s New Political Movement

 

Ekrem İmamoğlu Resigns from CHP to Back Özgür Özel’s New Political Movement

Detained former Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has formally resigned from the Republican People's Party (CHP) after 17 years of membership. İmamoğlu publicly announced his decision to throw his political support behind the New Party, recently established by Özgür Özel, signaling a major realignment within the Turkish political landscape.

Sources:

• Türkiye Today: Ex-Istanbul mayor Imamoglu quits CHP, throws weight behind Ozel's New Party

X Challenges Turkish Court Order Blocking Jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's Candidacy Account

X Challenges Turkish Court Order Blocking Jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's Candidacy Account

Social media platform X announced that it is complying with a Turkish court order to block access within Türkiye to the presidential candidacy office account of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The company simultaneously confirmed that it is contesting the restriction in court.

The restriction affects İmamoğlu's candidacy account, which had approximately 225,700 followers. According to court documents published by X, the restriction was issued by an Istanbul court citing reasons of national security and public order. X stated that while it is required to comply with domestic legal demands to prevent broader platform throttling in the country, it maintains that the restriction conflicts with principles of freedom of expression and due process.

İmamoğlu, a prominent political opposition leader, was detained in March 2025 and subsequently nominated as the Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate while in custody. He remains in detention awaiting trial on multiple charges. His primary social media account had previously been restricted in Türkiye under a separate judicial order.

Sources:

• Reuters / Internazionale

CHP İstanbul İl Başkanlığı'nda Liderlik İhtilafı: Mahkeme Kararı ve Polis Müdahalesi

 

CHP İstanbul İl Başkanlığı'nda Liderlik İhtilafı: Mahkeme Kararı ve Polis Müdahalesi

Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) İstanbul İl Başkanlığı binasında, yargı tarafından atanan geçici yönetim heyetinin talebi üzerine hareketli saatler yaşandı. Parti binasının dış cephesine, cezaevinde bulunan İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Ekrem İmamoğlu'nun pankartının asılması üzerine geçici heyet emniyet güçlerinden yardım istedi ve çevik kuvvet polisleri binaya giriş yaptı.

İstanbul 45. Asliye Hukuk Mahkemesi, yaşanan krizin ardından aldığı ara kararla, seçilmiş yönetimin yerine atanan kayyum komitesinin görev süresini 16 Ekim 2026 tarihindeki duruşmaya kadar uzattı. Muhalefet kanadı, yargı kararları ve polis müdahalesiyle parti içi siyasi yapının şekillendirilmeye çalışıldığını savunurken, hukuki süreçlerin ana muhalefet partisi üzerindeki baskıyı artırdığı belirtiliyor.

Detaylı Bilgi: Olayların gelişimini ve hukuki arka planı Turkish Minute raporundan okuyabilirsiniz.

İBB Başkanı Ekrem İmamoğlu Yolsuzluk Davası Duruşmasından Çıkarıldı

 

İBB Başkanı Ekrem İmamoğlu Yolsuzluk Davası Duruşmasından Çıkarıldı

İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye (İBB) Başkanı Ekrem İmamoğlu'nun yargılandığı davanın son duruşmasında gergin anlar yaşandı. Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan'ın başlıca siyasi rakiplerinden biri olarak kabul edilen muhalif lider İmamoğlu, Çarşamba günü görülen yolsuzluk davası duruşmasında mahkeme salonundan dışarı çıkarıldı. İmamoğlu, davanın siyasi saiklerle açıldığını savunarak savunma yapmaya devam edeceğini belirtti.

İlgili Kaynaklar:

• Barron's

• Courthouse News Service

• ABC News

• Turkish Minute

Over 300 Detained During Protests Following Arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Turkish authorities detained

 

Over 300 Detained During Protests Following Arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu

Turkish authorities detained more than 300 individuals during overnight protests in Istanbul. The demonstrations erupted in response to the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has served as the Mayor of Istanbul since 2019. İmamoğlu has been widely recognized internationally, with organizations such as Eurocities highlighting his model of inclusive and solidarity-based governance.

Sources:

• Newsonair - Turkey Detains more than 300 in Protests Over Istanbul Mayor's Arrest

• Eurocities - Istanbul's City Hero: Ekrem İmamoğlu