Hundreds of thousands of people attended a demonstration on Saturday organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party (Turkish abbr: CHP), which has been energized by the 19 March arrest of its leading light, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
With protests mounting, authoritarian President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is digging in.
Saturday’s orderly rally in Maltepe on the Asian side of Istanbul was led by CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, who has presided over daily protests since Imamoglu’s arrest.
The CHP has vowed to continue taking to the streets until Imamoglu is released from prison and allowed to run in the next presidential election, which Erdogan widely is expected to move up from 2028 to get around term limits.
Protests have taken place throughout the country, with many non-CHP members joining them in the hope of preserving what is left of Turkish democracy.
The protests mostly have been peaceful, although some 2,000 people have been arrested, including about 200 who have been jailed.
The 54-year-old Imamoglu, who had been leading Erdogan in some polls, was arrested on dubious corruption and terrorism charges five days before the CHP was scheduled to nominate him as its presidential candidate.
His conviction would derail his candidacy.
With an all-out confrontation taking shape, Erdogan has used terms like “street terrorism,” hinting at a crackdown.
Now 71, he has grown significantly more authoritarian since a failed military coup in 2016 killed hundreds of people, and in recent months stepped up arbitrary arrests of opposition politicians, journalists, activists, entrepreneurs and others.
Erdogan outlasted months of widespread protests against his rule in 2013, cracking down gradually with riot police and selective arrests.
Another lengthy standoff is likely, with serious street violence possible and the ultimate outcome unpredictable.
Turkish stocks and the lira, the national currency, have plunged since Imamoglu’s arrest, worsening the already fraught economic situation.
Turkish companies have been scrambling to assess risks, and in many cases are halting investment and cutting expenses.
Personnel may pursue routine business in Turkey but should monitor developments closely. They should give wide berth to street protests and seek indoor shelter immediately in the event of unrest nearby.
Personnel should be aware of the fierce political intrigue that Turkish colleagues and acquaintances must deal with and strictly should avoid discussion of politics, foreign affairs or religion with locals of all descriptions.
