President Erdoğan’s imprisonment of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu highlights Turkey’s shift towards autocracy, marking a significant reduction in legitimate political competition. This move signals Erdoğan’s intent to eliminate potential challengers, reflecting a broader crackdown on dissent, particularly against secular voices. As Turkey’s democratic structure deteriorates, the prospects for political pluralism grow dim amid Erdoğan’s consolidation of power.
On the recent imprisonment of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has displayed a decisive move towards authoritarianism. This act signifies a critical inflection point in Turkey’s shift towards autocracy, as İmamoğlu is recognized as a principal contender for the 2028 presidential elections. Although Turkey transitioned to a one-man regime in 2017, where legislative power dwindled, elections still maintained a guise of legitimacy, which is now jeopardized by this judicial action.
Erdoğan’s vision seeks to establish a singular societal framework guided by political Islam, stifling dissent regardless of its origin. Over the past two decades, he has initiated the Islamist transformation, marked by the elimination of opponents through politically motivated show trials, such as the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases, which utilized fabricated evidence.
Initially, Erdoğan garnered support from both left-wing factions and Western nations by depicting himself as an advocate for democracy against military dominance, implementing reforms that aligned Turkey with European Union standards. This façade of reform was paired with the collaboration of prosecutors tied to the Fethullah Gülen movement, which Erdoğan would later target following the 2013 corruption scandal.
The protests of 2013 at Gezi Park catalyzed a significant shift in Erdoğan’s approach to dissent, marking a pivot from his previously moderate stance to a more polarized rhetoric. Following his 2014 election, he effectively disregarded constitutional limitations by ruling as a party leader, which facilitated further consolidation of his power.
The coup attempt in 2016 presented Erdoğan with a critical opportunity to reshape Turkey’s governance, leading to mass arrests and dismissals across public administration. The Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) faced considerable repression, resulting in its leader, Selahattin Demirtaş, and other politicians being imprisoned.
An alliance with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) enabled Erdoğan to further entrench his control, reversing the party congress victory gained by Meral Akşener. During this period, Turkey’s relations with the Western bloc deteriorated while fostering connections with Russia, particularly through arms deals.
Post-2017, with Erdoğan’s consolidation of power evident in local election setbacks for his party, two mayors, Mansur Yavaş and İmamoğlu, emerged as significant threats. İmamoğlu, noted for his dynamic political skills, was anticipated to contend for the presidency in 2028. However, his removal reinforces Erdoğan’s determination to eliminate any potential electoral threats, a strategy reminiscent of authoritarian leaders like Putin and Maduro.
The implications of İmamoğlu’s imprisonment extend beyond political strategy, potentially ushering in intensified assaults against secular journalists and artists. The Republican People’s Party, now under leadership of İmamoğlu and Özgür Özel, is anticipated to face systematic erosion, limiting opposition under Erdoğan’s Islamic societal ideal.
In a global landscape increasingly dominated by authoritarianism, Erdoğan’s ambitions face little resistance. With traditional democratic frameworks crumbling in Turkey, ominous prospects loom as the guise of democratic contestation ceases to exist, erasing hopes for a revived political pluralism.
The article elucidates Turkey’s alarming descent into authoritarianism following the imprisonment of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, viewed as a critical political rival to President Erdoğan. This action underscores Erdoğan’s extensive consolidation of power and demonstrates an intent to stifle dissent within the opposition. With potential future repression aimed at secular elements, the trajectory indicates a dismal future for Turkey’s democratic potential. As Erdoğan maneuvers to fortify an authoritarian regime, the outlook for civil liberties and political competition remains increasingly bleak.
Original Source: jacobin.com
