Ekrem Imamoğlu has been sentenced for two years and seven months in prison ahead of 2023 elections
The mayor of Istambul has been convicted for insulting members of the Supreme Electoral Council in Turkey. According to a report in Euronews on Wednesday, December 14, the controversial trial took place ahead of elections scheduled for next year.
Ekrem Imamoğlu received a jail sentence of two years and seven months as well as a ban from politics for the same period. The 52-year-old politician who belongs to Turkey´s main opposition Republican party is now expected to appeal the court’s ruling.
Meanwhile, the report states, critics have slammed the trial. They suggest that this is an attempt to remove an important opponent of Turkey´s President Tayyip Erdoğan, ahead of presidential as well as parliamentary elections.
İmamoğlu came to power in 2019 after he won the elections, despite claims of irregularities in the first results of the municipal elections. This resulted in the election commission planning a repeat vote, which again declared him as the winner. His victory came as a major blow to Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, as they lost for the first time in 25 years.
The report said, the court ruling could eventually result in İmamoğlu being removed from his position as the mayor.
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