15M Vote in Opposition Primary After Istanbul Mayor's Jailing

Select Language:

Demonstrators protest the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 20, 2025. — Reuters

In a powerful demonstration of unity, millions of Turkish citizens participated in a symbolic vote organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) following the arrest of the beloved former Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, as reported by AFP.

What started as a primary to select Imamoglu as the CHP’s presidential candidate transformed into a nationwide expression of defiance.

“We won’t succumb to hopelessness,” asserted 38-year-old Aslihan, standing in line amidst the widespread protests ignited by Imamoglu’s detention. The CHP made a strategic decision to open the vote to the public, extending participation beyond its 1.7 million members, effectively turning it into an unofficial referendum on the future of the imprisoned leader.

Istanbul city officials reported that 15 million ballots were cast, with 13.2 million from non-party members. This remarkable turnout led authorities to extend the voting period by three and a half hours across 5,600 polling stations in all 81 provinces.

“Whenever there’s a formidable challenger to Erdogan, they end up in jail,” expressed Ferhat, 29, reflecting his discontent with the current political atmosphere. “What we have in Turkey is a dictatorship, nothing more. It’s just politics on the surface.”

Protesters gathered en masse at Istanbul City Hall, the epicenter of the ongoing demonstrations. “We’re here to show our support for our mayor,” said Kadriye Sevim, standing in a tent near the building. Ece Nazoskoc, an 18-year-old student, added, “No authority has the right to treat Turkish youth or the population this way. We will resist this until the very end.”

In neighborhoods like Kadikoy and Kasimpasa—where President Erdogan grew up—voters turned out in large numbers. Similar scenes unfolded across the country, from Ankara and Diyarbakir to rural Thrace.

“This is the first significant mobilization since the Gezi protests,” Aslihan noted. “I feel a renewed sense of strength and hope. But I believe this is our last chance.”