Fault Lines Episode 430: Erdoğan’s Power Play: The Arrest of Turkey’s Mayor
Today, Jess, Martha, Les, and Morgan unpack the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu —Turkey’s leading opposition figure and the likely challenger to President Erdoğan in 2028. His arrest sparked mass protests across the country and violent clashes, raising alarms over Turkey’s seemingly accelerating democratic backslide.
With Turkey’s geopolitical importance, including its strategic role in NATO —will democratic erosion be overlooked for political convenience? Or as Erdoğan tightens his grip, will the Trump Administration speak out for democracy?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/21/middleeast/turkey-protests-erdogan-mayor-intl-latam/index.html
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