Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Acquitted in Corruption Case Amid New Political Tensions

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was acquitted on Friday in a long-running corruption case dating back to his tenure as Beylikdüzü mayor, as speculation grows over new investigations targeting the opposition and renewed talk of a potential trustee appointment for Istanbul.

Court clears İmamoğlu of corruption charges

The Büyükçekmece 10th Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted İmamoğlu and six other defendants in the trial concerning alleged irregularities in municipal tenders during his term as mayor of Beylikdüzü (2014–2019).

Prosecutors had sought up to seven years in prison for İmamoğlu on charges of “rigging a public tender,” but the court ruled that there was no criminal evidence supporting the accusations.

The case, which has been ongoing for nearly three and a half years, centered on municipal procurement procedures from 2015.

Following the verdict, İmamoğlu posted a defiant message on X through his Presidential Campaign Office account, declaring:

“No conspiracy, no scheme can derail me from my path. I am Ekrem İmamoğlu, a true son of these lands — and I will continue to scare you with both my presence and my actions.”

Relief for CHP after court rejection of congress case

The acquittal came just days after another court dismissed the “absolute nullity” lawsuit challenging the legitimacy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) congress, which confirmed Özgür Özel as party leader.

Party insiders describe the recent rulings as “a brief moment of relief,” but caution that judicial pressure on opposition figures is unlikely to end.

A senior CHP source told Cumhuriyet that “the government’s political and legal offensive against İmamoğlu will continue,” adding that the next phase may involve allegations of espionage, bribery, or corruption designed to damage his reputation.

“They want to create a ‘Demirtaş scenario’ — to keep İmamoğlu tied to court cases or even in jail, while discrediting him publicly,” the source said, referring to the imprisoned former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş.

‘A new wave of investigations’ expected

According to CHP officials, government-aligned media and prosecutors are preparing to open a new espionage investigation that could implicate İmamoğlu and other CHP figures.

The probe reportedly includes allegations of foreign contacts and ties to terrorist organizations, which some within CHP believe may be intended to justify a potential trustee (kayyum) appointment to Istanbul Municipality.

“These are not random cases. There is a coordinated effort to criminalize opposition leaders ahead of the election,” one party strategist said. “The public, even within the AKP base, no longer believes these fabricated accusations.”

CHP fears trustee appointment scenario

Speculation about the possibility of a government-appointed trustee replacing İmamoğlu — similar to interventions in HDP municipalities — has resurfaced in political circles.

CHP Chair Özgür Özel sought to downplay the risk, telling reporters:

“Ekrem İmamoğlu is being tried without detention over a terrorism-related accusation. The moment such a case is framed as a terrorism probe, the law allows for a trustee appointment. But the intention to impose a kayyum has already been rejected by the conscience of this nation — they didn’t dare then, and they won’t dare now.”

Still, several CHP officials warn that even if legally tenuous, appointing a trustee could be one of the ruling AKP’s “backup scenarios” to destabilize the opposition’s hold over Istanbul.

“They might not have the legal ground, but that doesn’t mean they won’t try,” another CHP deputy told reporters. “This government operates through perception and intimidation.”

Court Dismisses CHP Congress Lawsuit: “No Grounds for Judgment”

Imamoğlu remains Erdoğan’s top challenger

İmamoğlu, 54, remains one of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strongest political rivals, particularly after his landmark victories in the 2019 and 2024 Istanbul elections, which broke the ruling AKP’s long control over Turkey’s largest city.

Analysts say the series of court cases against him — ranging from alleged corruption to “insulting public officials” — are part of a broader pattern of judicial pressure on potential opposition candidates ahead of the next general election.

“Each case, regardless of its outcome, keeps him politically on the defensive,” said an Ankara-based political scientist.

“The acquittal may temporarily clear his name, but the strategy is attrition — to drain his time, resources, and public focus.”

Legal cases and political messaging

The espionage investigation, still at a preliminary stage, reportedly centers on claims that Istanbul Municipality’s overseas collaborations and data exchanges may have violated national security protocols.

CHP sources dismiss these claims as “baseless,” arguing that similar allegations have been used in the past to justify kayyum appointments in Kurdish-majority cities.

“They are testing the public reaction by leaking these stories,” one CHP strategist said. “If they sense little backlash, they may escalate further.”

The same source added that the recent improvement in CHP’s internal cohesion following the party congress has made İmamoğlu an even more central target:

“Now that the internal disputes are over, they’ll focus again on criminalizing him personally.”

Political landscape ahead of 2026 elections

CHP officials believe Turkey will head toward the next election cycle under continued political polarization and judicial confrontation.

“The government has no economic relief to offer, so it will use fear, lawsuits, and smear campaigns,” one party insider said.
“But this strategy no longer works — even conservative voters see that Imamoğlu’s trials are politically motivated.”

Independent observers note that Borsa Istanbul rose nearly 5% following the court’s dismissal of the CHP congress case, a sign that markets welcomed a temporary easing of political tension.
Yet, they warn that renewed legal turbulence could quickly reverse that sentiment.