In the face of Türkiye’s escalating authoritarian backsliding, local and regional leaders across Europe are raising their voices louder than ever. The politically motivated arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime has shocked democratic institutions and citizens alike—both in Türkiye and across the European Union.
İmamoğlu, a leading figure in the Republican People’s Party (CHP)—a PES-associated member party—and a clear contender in Türkiye’s 2028 presidential elections, was arbitrarily detained under fabricated charges, alongside dozens of opposition figures. His imprisonment marks a dangerous escalation in a broader campaign to silence dissent, dismantle opposition forces, and erode democratic checks and balances in the country.
Progressive and socialist leaders have responded with unwavering solidarity. Over the past week, two PES-led missions travelled to Türkiye, demonstrating concrete support for the CHP and the broader democratic opposition. On 5 of April, one such delegations, included Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens and PES Group Vice-President, s, who travelled Ankara to meet with CHP leadership and deliver a clear message: "We are in Ankara to bring our voices together. We express our support to CHP party and its leadership and we request the immediate and unconditional release of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. We stand in full solidarity with the people of Türkiye and their fight for democracy and the rule of law."
“We express our support to @herkesicinCHP and its leadership and we request the immediate unconditional release of @ekrem_imamoglu.
We stand in full solidarity with the people of Türkiye and their fight for democracy and the rule of law.”
Vice-President @h_doukas in Ankara 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/h0rKKJiufT— PES Group | European Committee of the Regions (@PES_CoR) April 5, 2025
This same message was echoed during the European Committee of Region’s April plenary session. Thanks to a strong political push from progressive regional and local leaders—an Urgent Resolution was adopted condemning İmamoğlu's imprisonment and the broader assault on local democracy in Türkiye. The Resolution also called for the immediate release of the mayor and all other unjustly detained opposition representatives and protestors.
Importantly, this was not merely a symbolic gesture. The resolution includes a political commitment to organise an official CoR delegation to Türkiye—a move initiated and driven by the PES Group. This mission will bring the institutional voice of Europe’s cities and regions directly to Turkish authorities and civil society. It will amplify the call for democratic accountability and for Türkiye to respect its commitments as a candidate country to the European Union and as a member of the Council of Europe.
The message is clear: this is a defining moment for Türkiye and for Europe. The future of democracy in the region hangs in the balance, The PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions will remain a vocal advocate for the democratic aspirations of Türkiye’s people. Our group will continue to work in close cooperation with EU institutions and our partners in Türkiye to ensure a coherent and values-based European response. European institutions must not look the other way. As reaffirmed by PES Group President Luca Menesini, we will continue to fight for the immediate release of political prisoners, the end of repression, and the restoration of the rule of law.
Through institutional engagement and political pressure, progressive regions and cities will continue to speak out and stand in solidarity with those who dare to stand up against oppression, and we will not rest until democracy is restored for all the people of Türkiye.
