CHP parliamentary group vice to Imamoğlu: “Had arrested” | EUROtoday

The Turkish authorities depends on intimidation, says CHP parliamentary group vice Gökhan Günaydın. One couldn’t depend on an impartial judiciary. Nevertheless, the Imamoğlu confidante is combative after his detention.

Tagesschau24: When was the final time you spoke to Mr. Imamoğlu?

Gökhan Günaydın: Ekrem Imamoğlu was arrested by law enforcement officials in his residence at round 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning. I used to be with him the night earlier than, from about 10 p.m. to midnight and spoke to him to guage the state of affairs. So I noticed him at midnight by Tuesday on the newest.

Tagesschau24: Do you understand how he’s at the moment doing and beneath what situations he’s recorded?

Good morning: He has been held in an unit of detention within the Istanbul police headquarters for over 60 hours. The room is tiny, divided by grid rods. Unfortunately, the bodily situations are usually not acceptable. On the primary day, “our boys” wished to carry him a blanket, he stated: “I only accept them if you brings one for everyone.” Then 130 blankets had been organized.

In quick: he spends the nights on mats, wrapped in ceilings. Despite the poor situations, his temper is superb. He even jokes with the officers: “Here you need a short -term renovation by the city administration of Istanbul. Let us modernize it and then hand over again.” With his standard optimistic power, he himself fulfills the police station.

To particular person

Gökhan Günaydın is the deputy group chief of the CHP (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, “Republican People’s Party”), the most important opposition within the Turkish parliament. He is taken into account an in depth confidante of the detained Ekrem Imamoğlu.

University diploma declared

Tagesschau24: The night earlier than the arrest, they had been nonetheless with Mr. Imamoğlu. Could he put together?

Good morning: On the day we had been collectively, his 35 -year -old college diploma was declared invalid. This message hit Turkey like a bomb. We know the political situations right here – we had already anticipated that one thing worse would occur the subsequent morning to overshadow the subject of diploma scandal.

So we had anticipated an arrest of İmamoğlu and investigations towards his surroundings – each beneath the pretext of terrorist allegations and alleged monetary offenses. So I can not say that his arrest stunned us.

“Country has become one One-man regime developed”

Tagesschau24: Despite the chance of arrest and political restriction, Imamoğlu wished to be a candidate for presidential candidates. Why was that so necessary to him?

Good morning: Turkey has been dominated by the AKP for years. Especially for the reason that constitutional modification of 2017, the nation has developed right into a one-man regime wherein separation of powers and management mechanisms have been abolished.

All indicators – human rights, democracy, judiciary, financial system – present a fast deterioration. Many folks hope that this situation will finish as rapidly as attainable and to return Turkey to a contemporary constitutional state. There are all hopes for Imamoğlu.

Imamoğlu beat the AKP candidate in Istanbul in 2019. After solely 20 days, nonetheless, the workplace was withdrawn. In the brand new election in June 2019, he received with an amazing majority – the lead rose from 13,000 to 800,000 votes. Since then, it has been systematically confronted with obstacles, defamation, terrorist allegations and monetary accusations. Nevertheless, he received the 2024 native elections with a good bigger majority.

Current surveys present that Imamoğlu Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would beat in a presidential election. The CHP decided March 23, as a date for an in -party space code for the nomination of the presidential candidate. Since this choice, the measures have escalated towards Imamoğlu. Almost each week, new investigations are initiated, get together congresses prevented, a number of CHP mayors arrested.

If you might be politically concerned in Turkey – particularly towards somebody like Erdoğan who has been holding energy for 22 years – you want conviction and steadfastness. Millions of individuals name: “Save us from this corrupt system!” This is Imamoğlu’s motivation. Threats and blackmails should not block his political work.

“No security that there is an independent judiciary”

Tagesschau24: How massive is your belief within the Turkish judiciary?

Good morning: Before I categorical my subjective opinion, I want to inform you how the folks assume. According to surveys, belief within the judiciary in Turkey is just 17 to 18 p.c. Even AKP and MHP voters – i.e. supporters of Erdoğan – now not belief the judiciary.

The judiciary has grow to be a authorities instrument. The repression goes up to now that Imamoğlu, whom 16 million folks have chosen, is virtually unable to maneuver. In Turkey we now not have any certainty that there’s an impartial judiciary.

“The government puts on Intimidation”

Tagesschau24: How do you fee the temper in society – do you are feeling assist or grows the worry beneath Imamoğlus followers?

Good morning: The authorities depends on intimidation. But: In the night of Imamoğlus arrest, tons of of hundreds of individuals went to the Istanbul city corridor and protested. These protests unfold to the entire nation – even in conservative cities equivalent to Konya, Ankara and Trabzon.

Demonstrations will happen in 35 cities this night, together with within the 14 largest cities within the nation. More and extra folks say: “It is enough.” The authorities can gas worry – however it can’t cease solidarity.

Tagesschau24: What does the arrest of Imamoğlu imply for the complete opposition in Turkey?

Good morning: Imamoğlu is just not solely mayor of Istanbul, however some of the necessary political figures within the nation. His arrest is just not solely a loss for the CHP, but in addition for all of Istanbul. The authorities desires to decelerate the opposition. But: According to surveys, no person believes within the allegations raised towards him. People know that the allegations are politically motivated.

I want to emphasize that the developments are opposite to the objectives of the federal government. However, in response to the election outcomes of 2023, the federal government get together nonetheless nonetheless has the bulk in parliament.

We would not have sufficient seats to pressure an early selection. Therefore, we attempt to push the federal government into new elections as quickly as attainable via exterior stress. In the subsequent parliamentary election, the defeat of Erdoğan and the AKP is inevitable anyway.

I’d additionally prefer to level out that the Republican People’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP) has grow to be the strongest get together for the primary time in 50 years within the 2024 native elections. Despite all of the manipulations, obstacles, threats and worry of hysteria, she has claimed her place as a number one get together since then.

Therefore, I want to emphasize that we’ve to cope with these brutal, unlawful and all painful measures at quick discover, however within the medium time period, a course of that may result in the victory of Türkiye has began.

The dialog performed Damla Hekimoğlu, Tagesschau24. It was shortened and edited for the written model.