site.btaMEPs Condemn Attack on Democracy in Turkiye, Arrest of Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu

On Tuesday evening, the European Parliament in Strasbourg held a debate with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos regarding the assault on democracy in Turkiye and the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Kos voiced the European Union’s deep concern over Imamoglu’s arrest and announced that she was cancelling upcoming visits to Turkiye due to the unfolding events there.

Imamoglu was detained on March 19. On March 23, the court kept him in jail pending his trial on corruption charges at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality which led to his temporary removal from office. On the same day, March 23, the Republican People's Party nominated Imamoglu as their presidential candidate for the upcoming elections, which are scheduled to take place in 2028. The arrest of Istanbul's mayor led to mass protests in major cities in Turkiye, which resulted in clashes with the police and hundreds of people being detained.

European People’s Party MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis warned that Turkiye was on a dangerous path toward authoritarianism and that Imamoglu’s detention was yet another step in that direction. He emphasized that the EU must not remain silent and should send a strong message to Ankara. As EU-Turkiye Joint Parliamentary Committee Chair, Kefalogiannis said that the committee members had unanimously decided to freeze joint meetings with Turkiye.

Nacho Sánchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkiye from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, stressed that as an EU candidate country, Turkiye must align with European values and perspectives.

Patriots for Europe MEP Susanna Ceccardi stressed that while the European Parliament rightly condemns Imamoglu’s arrest, in France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been barred from running in elections for the next five years.

MEP Assita Kanko from the European Conservatives and Reformists highlighted the significance of the protests in Turkiye, calling on the EU to support the demonstrators. She also argued that the EU’s economic relations with Turkiye must adhere to its own standards and values, saying that all people deserve free elections and the rule of law.

MEP Malik Azmani from Renew Europe condemned the Istanbul mayor’s arrest as a politically motivated effort to silence the opposition. He urged the EU to suspend its dialogue with Turkiye until Imamoglu is released.

MEP Vladimir Prebilic from the Greens insisted that the EU must send a clear message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declaring the situation unacceptable and demanding the release of Imamoglu and those detained in connection with the protests.

MEP Giorgos Georgiou from the Left criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, arguing that they continue to engage with Erdogan despite Turkiye’s democratic backsliding. He urged the EU to defend the rule of law and human rights.

Turkiye was granted EU candidate status in 1999, and accession talks began in October 2005. However, due to Turkiye’s ongoing regression on democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights, the EU-Turkiye accession negotiations have been effectively frozen since June 2018.