İmamoğlu from Prison: “Türkiye Is Losing in Every Field”

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, currently held in Silivri Prison, issued a strong political message via his social media account, calling on opposition parties to unite around what he described as a “historic responsibility” for Türkiye’s future.

In his statement, İmamoğlu sharply criticized the Presidential Government System and current economic management, arguing that the country is facing decline across multiple sectors. His remarks combine political, economic, and social critiques, while urging a coordinated opposition strategy ahead of future elections.

“A Country Losing in Every Field”

Targeting the current governance model, İmamoğlu wrote:

“Because of the collapse caused by the Presidential Government System and incompetent economic management, Türkiye continues to be a country that is losing in every field.”

His criticism centers on the concentration of executive power and on what he describes as the weakening of institutional checks and balances. He argued that centralization of authority has eroded public trust in key state institutions.

Referring specifically to the justice system, İmamoğlu stated:

“In this abnormal system where the country, the state, the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches are left to the authority of a single person, distrust in the justice system has exceeded 80%. Injustice has reached a level that shakes the very foundation of the state.”

He further claimed that pessimism about the future has become widespread, adding:

“The rate of those who believe that tomorrow will not be better is in the 70% range, and the vote share of a government that has lost legitimacy is at the 20% level.”

Education and Public Morale

İmamoğlu also addressed challenges in the education system and broader social sentiment.

“The deep failure in education, hopelessness, and uncertainty about the future continue to be an existential issue that is exhausting our youth.”

Describing what he sees as a shift in public psychology, he added:

“Türkiye, which talks not about better days but worse ones, which expects price hikes rather than discounts, is now exhausted.”

His remarks reflect a broader narrative that economic pressures, inflation concerns, and institutional uncertainty have reshaped social expectations.

Climate of Fear and Public Silence

In his message, İmamoğlu argued that a climate of fear and anxiety has weakened social cohesion.

“Because of the climate of fear, anxiety and concern, the unhappiness, unrest and distrust of our nation, which cannot speak freely, continue to deepen.”

The emphasis on public silence and unease is central to his appeal to opposition parties, which he says must move beyond fragmented politics.

Call for Opposition Unity

İmamoğlu framed the coming political period as a decisive moment, calling for collective action among opposition groups.

“To ensure social unity and integrity, to protect our Republic, to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, and to rebuild a prosperous Türkiye, it has become inevitable for us to think together and produce common wisdom.”

He stressed that safeguarding electoral integrity is a shared duty.

“Working with a sense of responsibility to ensure that elections are held in a fair, equal, and secure environment is the historic responsibility of all of us in the opposition.”

Highlighting the importance of voter will, he concluded:

“For the full manifestation of the nation’s will at the ballot box, we must think and act together.”

İmamoğlu ended his statement with a broader appeal:

“We must together build a common wisdom that will fulfill our historic responsibility for Türkiye’s future. We must stand up for Türkiye.”

Political and Institutional Implications

İmamoğlu’s message arrives at a politically sensitive moment. His detention in Silivri Prison has already drawn attention domestically and internationally. By combining institutional criticism with an explicit call for opposition coordination, he appears to be positioning the debate around governance reform, economic management, and electoral fairness simultaneously.

Whether this appeal translates into structured opposition or collaboration remains uncertain. However, his framing of the moment as one of “historic responsibility” suggests an effort to move beyond individual party agendas toward a broader political alignment.