On Saturday morning, Turkish authorities arrested three more mayors from the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), deepening political tensions in the country. CHP officials condemned the move, calling it “political revenge” by President Erdoğan’s government.
According to French news agency AFP, the arrests are linked to a corruption case that previously led to the suspension of Istanbul’s powerful opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, in March. His removal sparked nationwide protests — some of the largest since 2013. İmamoğlu is widely seen as Erdoğan’s main rival and is expected to run for president in the 2028 elections.
The newly arrested mayors include Zeydan Karalar of Adana, Muhittin Böcek of Antalya, and Abdurrahman Tutdere of Adıyaman. All three cities lie in southern Turkey. Just days earlier, Turkish police had detained over 120 people in İzmir — an opposition stronghold — on similar corruption charges.
Ankara’s opposition mayor, Mansur Yavaş, criticized the arrests on social media, writing, “In a system where laws bend to politics and justice is selective, don’t expect us to believe in the rule of law.” The pro-Kurdish DEM Party, Turkey’s third-largest political party, also condemned the arrests, saying they threaten democracy and deepen public distrust.
Meanwhile, CHP is facing a wave of legal pressure. On Monday, a court in Ankara began hearings on alleged vote-buying during the party’s 2023 leadership elections. This could challenge the leadership of Özgür Özel, who rose to prominence during the recent protests. Additionally, Istanbul’s deputy mayor Ahmet Şahin and the son of Antalya’s mayor have also been arrested on separate corruption charges.
Observers fear that these developments mark the start of a broader political crackdown ahead of the 2028 elections, where opposition unity and public trust in democratic institutions remain at stake.