Ekrem İmamoğlu, the jailed mayor of İstanbul and the main opposition candidate for Turkey’s presidency, said he is “committed to leading my country’s democratic renewal,” in a guest essay published by The Economist on Thursday.
Writing from prison, İmamoğlu argued that Turkey’s growing authoritarianism under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is threatening both domestic peace and the country’s standing in the world.
The op-ed, titled “Turkey’s Future,” appears in the British magazine’s prestigious By Invitation section and outlines İmamoğlu’s vision for resolving Turkey’s decades-old Kurdish conflict, reviving democratic institutions and pursuing a more stable foreign policy.
İmamoğlu, 54, rose to prominence as a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) when he won the İstanbul mayoral election in 2019, defeating the ruling party’s candidate in a historic upset. This led to the country’s top election authority to annul the vote, but İmamoğlu won the rerun with a greater margin months later. The İstanbul mayor secured his post in the 2024 local elections that saw his CHP garner a plurality of the vote for the first time in nearly half a century.
Widely viewed as President Erdoğan’s strongest rival, he became a symbol of opposition unity and democratic resilience after he was arrested as he was poised to be formally nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate, İmamoğlu was arrested on charges of corruption in March — charges he and his supporters say are politically motivated.
His arrest triggered mass protests in major cities and drew condemnation from international rights groups and several European governments. Despite being in prison, İmamoğlu remains the CHP’s official nominee for the next presidential election, slated for 2028 but which could also happen earlier, and continues to speak out through published essays as well as posts on social media.
A roadmap for peace and reform
In his Economist article, İmamoğlu frames the recent steps taken by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to give up arms as a historic opportunity for peace, while warning that the Turkish government’s authoritarian turn is undermining the chance to resolve the conflict sustainably.
“In July, some 30 members of the PKK laid down their weapons in a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq,” İmamoğlu writes, referring to a public event that marked the beginning of the group’s process of disbanding. “The disarmament under way is welcome and marks a historic opportunity to break a cycle of violence that has long burdened the country’s political system, slowed economic progress and deepened divisions.”
He criticizes the government for conducting peace talks behind closed doors without parliamentary oversight or civic participation. The CHP, he says, has proposed the creation of a parliamentary commission to ensure transparency, legal accountability and long-term planning. That commission convened for the first time on August 5, but İmamoğlu warns that without broader political inclusion, the process could fail.
“Many fear the government’s narrow security agenda will dominate deliberations; we are nonetheless taking part to ensure that broader issues of democratisation and social cohesion are put squarely on the agenda,” he writes.
‘Peace needs legitimacy, not repression’
The essay argues that peace with Turkey’s Kurdish population must be grounded not only in security arrangements but in broader democratic reform. İmamoğlu outlines four pillars of his proposed agenda: equal citizenship, democratic participation, justice and institutional reform. He links the success of any peace process to the health of Turkey’s democratic institutions, which he says have been eroded by years of one-man rule.
“Lasting peace cannot happen in a system marked by partisanship and democratic backsliding,” İmamoğlu writes.
He also uses the article to highlight his own case, arguing that his imprisonment exemplifies the politicization of the judiciary. One of the charges against him, aiding terrorism, which was not the grounds for his arrest, is based on the alleged presence of individuals with indirect ties to pro-Kurdish platforms on the CHP’s municipal election list. All candidates had been vetted and approved by Turkey’s Supreme Election Council before being elected.
“Meanwhile,” he notes, “a government claiming to seek peace has systematically targeted elected Kurdish representatives. Dozens of mayors have been dismissed and replaced with state-appointed figures.”
International implications
İmamoğlu warns that Turkey’s deteriorating democracy is not only a domestic concern but also a barrier to effective foreign policy. He criticizes Erdoğan’s government for pursuing inconsistent diplomacy based on domestic political needs, citing swings between confrontation and rapprochement with neighboring countries.
“Turkish foreign policy, reactive and driven by internal political calculations, lacks consistency,” he writes. “A shifting regional landscape, not least with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, offers a chance for real engagement … if [Turkey] pursues a foreign policy rooted in justice and inclusivity for all communities.”
He also argues that a return to democratic legitimacy at home could revive Turkey’s stalled accession process with the European Union. “Turkey’s geographic position, historical richness and democratic legacy equip it as a force for stability and progress,” the essay states.
A call to voters and global partners
The essay concludes with a direct appeal to the Turkish electorate and to the international community: to view Turkey’s governance and democracy as the foundation of its reliability abroad.
“To be a responsible regional power, Turkey must restore the integrity of its democratic institutions,” İmamoğlu writes. “Only then can it act as a trusted partner in an increasingly unstable world.”
He reaffirms his commitment to run for president and pledges to lead a government “anchored in legitimacy and the rule of law” that will work with global partners “with clarity and resolve.”