President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that people attempting to undermine Turkey’s economy will face legal consequences, as the opposition calls for a boycott of pro-government businesses amid protests over the arrest of İstanbul’s popular mayor, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
“Any person who attempts to sabotage the Turkish economy will be held accountable in a court of law,” Erdoğan said Wednesday at a parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
He accused the opposition of trying to harm the economy after failing to achieve their goals through political means.
Erdoğan’s warning came amid ongoing protests over the recent arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) as well as the arrest of dozens of local opposition politicians, journalists and activists. The unrest has sparked the country’s largest demonstrations since 2013, accompanied by an opposition-led boycott of pro-government businesses.
CHP leader Özgür Özel made the boycott call on Monday during a protest in front of İstanbul City Hall. He urged supporters to shun businesses and media outlets linked to the AKP, naming nearly two dozen brands, including popular bookstores and coffee shops and encouraging people to cancel subscriptions and shop at independent businesses.
The boycott campaign has rapidly gained traction online, with users sharing extended lists of pro-government brands and urging others to take economic action against them.
AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik denounced the campaign as “political bullying” on Tuesday, accusing Özel of behaving like an aggressor rather than a statesman. He said the CHP should address internal corruption allegations instead of attacking national businesses.
İmamoğlu, seen as Erdoğan’s main political rival, has previously defeated the AKP three times in İstanbul elections. He, as well as more than 100 others in two investigations launched by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, face terrorism and corruption charges, which many critics say are politically motivated to sideline the mayor ahead of the next presidential election.
Erdoğan hints at broader crackdown on CHP
The CHP has been the target of a major crackdown for months, which has led to the arrest and removal from office of six of its mayors in İstanbul, including İmamoğlu. During Wednesday’s meeting, Erdoğan hinted at an even broader operation against the party.
“The bigger bombshells are still in the bag,” Erdoğan said, reiterating a phrase he first used in January that was widely interpreted as a threat of further legal action against opposition figures, particularly İmamoğlu.
He accused CHP municipalities of widespread corruption, bribery and financial misconduct, claiming that billions of lira had been embezzled.
Erdoğan’s remarks have fueled speculation about whether the government is planning to appoint a trustee to take over the CHP.
When asked by a journalist after the meeting whether “the bigger bombshell” referred to the appointment of a trustee to the CHP or something else, Erdoğan dodged the question, instead directing another journalist to answer it.
Amid intensifying pressure on his party, CHP leader Özgür Özel last week called for an extraordinary party congress in April to counter possible government efforts to take control of the party’s management.