Vula Tsetsi, co-chair of the European Green Party, stated:

“When State leaders use the judiciary to stage a direct attack on their biggest democratic opponent, the European Union needs to take a firm stance. Erdoğan’s erosion of judicial independence and the targeting of political opponents are unacceptable in any aspiring EU member state. We call for the immediate release of Ekrem İmamoğlu. Autocrats are clearly feeling empowered by the latest geopolitical developments, and the EU needs to act decisively.”

Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Green Party, added:

“It is clear that this arrest is politically motivated and part of Erdoğan’s repression against his biggest political opponent. The EU must hold the Erdoğan government accountable, so we expect the European Council taking place this week to take concrete and immediate measures in support of democracy in Turkey. We as Greens stand by the people of Turkey and their right to freely elect their leaders.”

The Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament will ask for a plenary debate.  

Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s oldest political party and a member of the Party of European Socialists (PES). İmamoğlu has led Turkey’s biggest city since 2019 and won re-election last year. He is one of Turkey’s most popular politicians and widely considered as Erdoğan’s biggest rival. The timing of his arrest is no coincidence: his party, CHP, is planning to nominate him as their next presidential candidate on Sunday.  

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