We stand with Ekrem İmamoğlu, the brave protesters against the regime of Erdoğan and with the democratic opposition. This message was delivered directly in Turkey by a PES (Party of European Socialists) delegation to Istanbul. The delegation travelled in a show of solidarity in response to the shocking developments in which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu. The mayor comes from the Turkish Republican People’s Party (CHP), PES associated member party and a strong contender to Erdoğan in the Turkish presidential elections in 2028.
The arrest has sent shockwaves across Turkey, leading to thousands of protests across Turkey condemning this shameful act and currently, around 1800 people have been detained by the authorities, including journalists, students and lawyers.
The delegation consisted of PES President Stefan Löfven, PES Vice President and Vice President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley, PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck, and the members of the European Parliament from the S&D group – Evin Incir and Dario Nardella. During the mission to Turkey, the delegation tried to visit İmamoğlu at the Silivri Prison next to Istanbul but was kept by the authorities outside the prison walls.
Standing outside the prison, PES President Stefan Löfven said:
‘‘The news of the imprisonment of a member of our political family, Ekrem İmamoğlu, has shocked the PES to its core. We remain deeply concerned by the backsliding of the rule of law and the very present threats to democracy in Turkey as we know it. We reiterate our call to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to immediately release İmamoğlu and to cease attacks on the media and protestors who are reporting on the upheaval’’
In Istanbul, PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck said:
‘‘We express our support to the Turkish opposition party CHP in this moment of political turmoil which has rocked Turkey to its very core. We will always stand with our associated member party CHP in its pursuit of rebuilding a democratic Turkey as envisioned by the founder of the party and of modern Turkey – Kemal Atatürk. We will keep on fighting for the release of all political prisoners, including the ones from the other PES associated member party – DEM party.’’
Katarina Barley, PES Vice President and Vice President of the European Parliament, added:
We are at a turning point in history. Governments around the world feel empowered by the events in the U.S. to violate the rule of law to undermine democracy. President Erdogan disregards the laws in his own country or changes them to secure his endless rulership. The rule of law is the stepping stone for democracy, and we are here to remind the current regime of that.”
The PES delegation visited the CHP office in Istanbul and met with the leader, Özgür Özel. PES President Löfven praised his Turkish counterpart for the wisdom and devotion Mr.Ozgur showed in steering the CHP in such a challenging moment. Both leaders agreed that Erdoğan is weaponising the judiciary, the prisons, and the police to silence any opposition to his regime. By arresting opposition candidates and prominent figures, he aims to reach the Turkish presidential election without competition.
Members of the PES delegation to Istanbul:
- Stefan Löfven, PES President,
- Katarina Barley, PES Vice President and Vice President of the European Parliament, S&D
- Giacomo Filibeck, PES Secretary General
- Evin Incir, Member of the European Parliament, S&D
- Dario Nardella, Member of the European Parliament, S&D
- Astrid Boursier, PES, Advisor International Unit,
- Sylvie Rurakamvye, International Unit, PES
