Can Akram Imamoglu be a presidential candidate for Turkey? | policy

In the last week, the investigations that were opened against the mayor of Istanbul Greater Akram Imamoglu, the presidential candidate for the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and 106 other people, have become one of the most important topics not only in the Turkish media but also in the global media as well.

In order to clarify the topic for Al -Jazeera Net readers in a deeper way, I prepared this article in the form of a question and answer.

What is the scope of the investigations that have been opened?

The Public Prosecution in Istanbul has opened two investigations against the mayor of Istanbul Akram Imamoglu and 106 people.

The first investigation; It relates to organized crimes such as corruption, bribery, threats, tender manipulation, misuse of the public job, and illegally recording personal data of citizens.

As for the second investigation, it is regarding “terrorist crimes”, and it is related to providing material support for the organization of the PKK (PKK), and the employment of its members in the municipalities.

What is accused of Akram Imamoglu and his colleagues?

Akram Imamoglu and his colleagues accuse the establishment and management of a criminal organization, to provide support for a terrorist organization, the organization of illegal tenders, the manipulation of tenders, the taking of money from businessmen under threat, the illegal registration of the Istanbul population data, and the reception of bribes.

What did the courts decided as a result of these charges?

92 out of 106 people were arrested, including the investigation, and the research is still ongoing for 13 people.

The detainees denied all the charges against them during the interrogation of the police and the prosecution, and confirmed that they are innocent. 50 people, including Akram Imamoglu, were arrested, and they were sent to prison by a decision of the alternate court, while 42 people were released on the condition of judicial control.

The detainees include municipal heads, high -ranking officials in the municipality, businessmen, and bureaucrats.

What is the opposition?

The opposition claims that these investigations are of political motives, and that it aims to prevent Akram Imamoglu, the most powerful presidential candidate, from running.

In his interrogation, Imamoglu refused to respond to many questions, saying: “I do not consider this question to be directed to me.”

The opposition says: The judiciary is not independent, and it is under the control of the government, noting that no case has been opened against the municipalities of the ruling parties for 20 years, and therefore it does not trust the judiciary.

What does the government say?

The spokesman for the Justice and Development Party and President Erdogan says: These investigations are independent decisions for the judiciary, and the allegations are dangerous and important, but the opposition does not respond to them. They say: The opposition is trying to turn the issue into political debate instead of responding to the allegations of corruption, which is estimated at billions of pounds.

Will a will be appointed to the Greater Istanbul municipality?

According to the Turkish criminal law, if a mayor is arrested in the context of organized crimes, he is isolated from his post and a new deputy mayor is elected by the Municipal Council until the election date.

But if an investigation or a ruling is opened against him in terrorist crimes, elections are not held in the municipal council, but the Ministry of Interior is appointed as a guardian.

Akram Imamoglu was removed from his position by the Ministry of Interior in the context of organized crimes, and an alternative will be elected in the Municipal Council on March 26, and a guardian will not be appointed.

As for the mayor of the Pelek Douzu region in Istanbul, Murad Chalik, who was arrested in the same investigation, he was also isolated and will be elected to him.

However, the mayor of Shishli in Istanbul, a messenger of Shaheen, was arrested in the context of terrorist crimes, and therefore he was isolated by the Ministry of Interior and the appointment of the position of the position of the region as a loyalty to it.

Can Akram Imamoglu be a presidential candidate?

Before these investigations, there was an existing investigation about the lack of validity of Imamoglu University degree, and it ended on March 18, 2025.

Istanbul University confirmed that Imamoglu did not meet the required conditions when he moved from the American University of Other in Cyprus to Istanbul University in 1990, and that he moved to the College of Business Administration illegally, and his degree was canceled.

The university canceled the certificates of 27 other people who moved with him in the same period.

According to the Turkish constitution, presidential candidates must be university graduates, and thus, the Imam of Ihsanou cannot run. But he can appeal before the administrative court, and if the court nullifies the university’s decision, he can run.

If the current investigations end before the 2028 elections and a ruling was convicted of organized crimes, he will not be able to run as well.

Despite all of this, the Republican People’s Party held a preliminary election on March 23, 2025, in which Imamoglu was won as a presidential candidate with great support from the party members. The party stated that 15 million citizens outside the party also voted for it.

But these votes and elections do not officially qualify him to become a presidential candidate.

Will the main opposition party be closed?

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) held its general conference on November 4, 2023, and was elected Ozgor Ozal as a new president.

Former President Kamal Klijdaroglu and his supporters claimed that the conference witnessed the purchases of sounds and forgery, and some members offered claims to nullify it. In light of the start of investigations in Istanbul, the party administration decided to hold an exceptional conference on April 6, 2025, claiming that “a trustee will be appointed to the party.”

If the court decides to appoint a guardian, a new conference must be held within 45 days. But there is no decision to close or manage the party by a government guardian.

Will the opposition be able to present a presidential candidate?

Imamoglu was not the only candidate for Erdogan; There was also the mayor of Ankara Mansour Yavash, who was shown by surveys, ahead of the Imam ofoglu. Because of the competition between them, introductory elections were held, Yavash refused to participate in it.

Now, after the arrest of Imamoglu, CHP can filter Mansour Yafash or another person.

Are the opposition to Türkiye suppressed?

Because of the corruption issues that were opened against the municipalities of the Republican People’s Party, and the issues of terrorism against the Democratic Peoples Party, guardians have been appointed to a number of municipalities and some of their superiors were isolated.

Investigations were also opened against journalists, writers and businessmen who support the opposition. The opposition claims that these investigations, the most recent of which is the Istanbul municipality case, aims to silence it using the judiciary.

It is correct that these investigations and arrests are pressure on the opposition and its supporters, but it does not mean that the opposition has been fully crushed. All opposition parties are still practicing their political activities, and are the most TV channels and newspapers in Türkiye currently affiliated with the opposition.