Thread by @CagilKasapoglu

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a rival of Erdogan, sentenced to more than 2 years in
prison and imposed a political ban for insulting public
officials, in a ruling set to go to an appeal. In his 2019 local-election victory speech, he said those who annulled the vote were "fools".

Context: Imamoglu said he will appeal his conviction which would potentially extend the case beyond the elex due June 2023. Imamoglu made those remarks to reporters a few months after defeating Erdogan's ally in a re-run of local election held after his first victory was annulled

Erdogan had refused to acknowledge Imamoglu's victory in Istanbul, a city which he ran before switching to national politics. And officials reported 'discovering hundreds of thousands of "suspicious votes". But Erdogan's ally lost in the re-run too. Was a big blow to Erdogan.

A few months later Imamoglu called the people/officials who annulled the first vote "fools" and an Istanbul court sentenced him to two years and seven-and-a-half months in prison for defamation...

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey are scheduled to take place on 18 June 2023. (If not sooner) It will be a crucial one for the country. A main
opposition presidential candidate has not yet been chosen despite rounds of talks between smaller allies.

Imamoglu was seen as a potential presidential challenger to Erdogan but if convicted, his political career will be at risk. Other potential candidates are CHP's leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the mayor of Ankara Mansur Yavas (also CHP).
Crucial months ahead...

Huge crowd gathered in Sarachane, district of Istanbul in support of Ekrem Imamoglu - Leaders of a six-party opposition alliance coming together to denounce the ruling. Historic scenes really...

https://twitter.com/halktvcomtr/status/1603375486901501953?s=20&t=EYTPleO67sRJWxJ8oUCrgQ