The Turkish government is tightening its grip on the opposition as a court in Istanbul orders the removal of a key opposition mayor, a move that critics say is designed to silence dissent ahead of next year's elections. The UK Foreign Office has issued a statement calling for 'respect for the democratic process' and urging Ankara to uphold the rule of law.
The decision to oust the mayor, a prominent member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was handed down by a court on charges of 'terror propaganda'. The mayor, who denies the allegations, has been a vocal critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's economic policies, which have sent the Turkish lira into a tailspin and pushed inflation to over 80%.
The ruling is the latest in a series of crackdowns on opposition figures, journalists and activists since the failed coup attempt in 2016. Erdogan, who has governed Turkey since 2003, faces his toughest electoral test next year as the economy struggles and his popularity wanes. The opposition is hoping to capitalise on public anger over soaring prices and a currency crisis that has eroded the purchasing power of ordinary Turks.
For many Turkish workers, the crisis is a daily reality. The minimum wage, which was raised by 30% in July, still lags behind the soaring cost of bread, cooking oil and rent. In Istanbul, the price of a loaf of bread has doubled in the past year. Unions have staged protests, but the government has cracked down on strikes, citing national security.
The UK's call for democratic process comes after months of diplomatic tensions between London and Ankara. Britain has accused Turkey of blocking Nato enlargement by objecting to Sweden and Finland's membership. Meanwhile, Erdogan has used the war in Ukraine to position himself as a mediator, but at home, his authoritarianism is deepening.
The opposition is now pinning its hopes on a united front. Six opposition parties have agreed to field a single candidate against Erdogan next year. But the removal of the Istanbul mayor, who was seen as a potential challenger, is a blow. For now, the government seems determined to remove any obstacle in its path, no matter the cost to Turkey's democracy.
