ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday accused the country’s main opposition party of trying to undermine an ongoing corruption investigation involving the detained mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu.
Erdogan charged that the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Imamoglu’s political home, was attempting to block legal proceedings by publicly criticizing the judiciary and alleging political interference.
“No matter your efforts, justice will proceed unimpeded,” Erdogan declared during a meeting with members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
He further described the judiciary’s role as crucial in dismantling what he referred to as “the corrupt network that has spread across Istanbul like ivy,” promising that the truth would eventually come to light.
Imamoglu, a prominent critic of Erdogan and a potential contender in upcoming presidential elections, has been at the center of controversy, with the opposition branding the charges against him as politically driven. The government, meanwhile, insists the judiciary is acting independently and has dismissed opposition claims as baseless fearmongering.
The mayor’s arrest has sparked widespread demonstrations nationwide. While most gatherings have remained peaceful, authorities have detained nearly 2,000 protesters, with about 300 remanded in custody awaiting trial.
The turmoil has rattled financial markets, with the Turkish lira plunging to an all-time low and investor confidence shaken, compounding the country’s already steep borrowing costs and corporate financial strain.