In a shocking turn of events, the Turkish government has been accused of staging a “coup” against the opposition by CHP leader Ozgur Ozel. Protests have erupted across the country after Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on allegations of graft. Imamoglu, who leads President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in some polls, is from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and his arrest has sparked the largest anti-government demonstrations in over a decade.
Many believe that Imamoglu’s arrest was a strategic move by the government to eliminate a potential electoral threat to Erdogan. The CHP, along with other opposition parties, rights groups, and Western powers, have all condemned the case against Imamoglu and have accused the government of exerting influence over the judiciary. On the other hand, the government maintains that the courts are independent and denies any wrongdoing.
In a recent interview with DW’s Julia Hahn, Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the main opposition, expressed his concerns about the current political climate in Turkey. The mass arrests and ongoing protests indicate a growing division within the country and a heightened sense of political tension. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what impact it will have on Turkey’s upcoming elections.
As the turmoil continues to unfold in Turkey, the international community watches closely to see how the government and opposition navigate these turbulent times. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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Video “Turkey's government has staged a “coup” against the opposition, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel tells DW” was uploaded on 03/29/2025 to Youtube Channel DW News