A week ago, on the eve of the muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr ending Ramadan, respective 100 1000 Turks — although according to the organizers there could have been up to 2.2 million of them — gathered in the Anatoliian part of Istanbul to one more time protest against arresting the mayor of Ekrema Imamoglu. alternatively of broadcasting the large protest that broke out in the Maltepe district, the national news channel Haberturk broadcast... recipes.
Other tv channels, which always broadcast all over all Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's press conference, besides did not pay besides much attention to the antennae's massive demonstration — and any completely ignored it. The Turkish opposition responded harshly — a call to boycott.
— If they do not want to see us, we will not see them either," shouted Ozgur Ozgur Ozel, leader of the opposition Republican People's organization (CHP), to the protesting crowd. These words may have more consequences than it seems, as shown by the panic reaction of the Turkish government.
In addition to the tax-funded all broadcasters in question are owned by large conglomerates which besides operate in another sectors. This makes calling the opposition to boycott besides apply to another brands of these companies, including Volkswagen and Audi.
Power demonstration
Compared to huge protests, which occurred immediately after the arrest of Imamoglu, boycott calls seem alternatively defensive. The demonstrations had 2 very circumstantial objectives — to bring about the release of the arrested Ekrem Imamoglu and to prevent the compulsory state administration of the city administration of Istanbul and the CHP party. The second has been achieved.
However, the opposition cannot, as if never return to average activity. But without concrete demands — and without a realistic position of Erdogan's resignation — he cannot proceed protests at the same level without hazard of public fatigue and further arrests. At the same time, it seeks to affect older citizens who have so far avoided protests for fear of being treated with teardrop gas, arrests or bitter professional consequences.
KEMAL ASLAN/AFP/East News / East NewsOzgur Ozul, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, speaking to participants of protests in Turkey, 29 March 2025.
So he does it in different ways. For example, after Imamoglu's arrest, she held interior elections to appoint her candidate to run for presidential election. The vote was open to all citizens, resulting in 13.2 million non-partisans — compared to 1.6 million people with organization legitimacy. CHP besides called on the Turks for a one-day buying boycott - Wednesday. It was rather a clever procedure — you can drive the demonstrators by force, but you can't force individual into a supermarket.
Currently, CHP plays the function of mainly the organiser of protests. Although he tries to unite various opposition environments, the top momentum is given by students — they were the first to go out on the street after the arrest of Imamoglu and were the first to formulate boycott demands. For this generation, the mayor of Istanbul is only a symbolic figure. They are not fighting for him or his CHP organization — but for their own future.
The one-day boycott of purchases was primarily a demonstration of force. The boycott of any companies is expected to have, in the presumption of organizers, a akin character — and reduce support for Erdogan. — next day she will line up to arrange a gathering with Imamoglu Ekrem. We will measure you on the basis of how you will set up today,” said organization leader CHP Ozel, sending companies a meaningful suggestion. It was most likely well understood — besides by Volkswagen.
“We hope that the legitimate interests of the full population will be taken into account in the current tense political situation,” said the company’s spokesperson in an interview with “Welt Am Sonntag”. He added that for Volkswagen, the independency of the judiciary is "an crucial basis for the safety of economical planning and the success of entrepreneurship", which is why the "Turkish constitutional state is peculiarly liable for the current situation". It was diplomaticly restrained, but a clear statement.
"Test of coup"
Such statements are most likely 1 of the reasons why Erdogan's government responds more forcefully to announced boycotts than to mass demonstrations. I don't think there's a minister in the Turkish government who wouldn't show up demonstrationally with boycotted products. Moreover, the prosecution launched an investigation into incitement to hatred, and Home Minister Ali Yerlikaya even mentioned "an effort at a coup."
"They inactive believe they can win the election," wrote Cem Kucuk, 1 of the largest government activists, in the "Turkiye" journal. He added that the opposition did not realize the strategy that was established after 2016 coup attempt. “After him 70 percent of the safety forces were appointed,” he wrote, smuggling a hidden threat in these words — that the government is increasingly little and little relying on the support of the population and more and more on state apparatus.
Meanwhile, CHP is already preparing another campaign. It wants to start “the largest collection of signatures in the world”, to force Erdogan to hold an early election. Erdogan is besides curious in them — due to the fact that according to the current constitution he could only run again in specified a situation. specified early elections would should be approved by a 60% majority. However, Erdogan is improbable to agree until The momentum, as is now the case, lies with the opposition.
The last large battle
It is clear that arrest of Imamoglu He's been reasoning for a long time. In January, following protests in Gezi in 2013, Ayse Barim, manager of many celebrated actors, was arrested. She was accused of “an effort to overthrow the constitutional order.” On the same day as Imamoglu, a well-known investigative journalist, Ismail Saymaz, was arrested, besides in connection with the Gezi protests. Although he managed to avoid home arrest, he has not been heard from since. Not surprisingly, an accusation of attempted coup could consequence in a life sentence.
ADEM ALTAN/AFP/East News / East NewsParticipants of protests in Turkey during a boycott organised by the opposition in Ankara, 2 April 2025.
Years after demonstrations in Gezi Park, An osmkan culture patron and another public figures were sentenced to a long prison term. Many of them, despite the judgments of the Turkish Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights, are inactive in prison. Shortly before Imamoglu on suspicion of misinformation were detained Orhan Turan and Omer Aras of the Turkish manufacture and Business Association (Tusiad). They avoided temporary detention, but Umit Ozdagovich, president of the rising nationalist party, failed.
These attempts to intimidate journalists, artists, entrepreneurs and politicians — and through them throughout society — were not adequate to halt the protests. Erdogan will likely draw conclusions from this and origin another large blow, which is already openly threatening. The conflict between government and opposition will most likely continue, although at comparatively low intensity. But there is no turning back — Turkey will change 1 way or another.
This is most likely the last major political conflict for a 71-year-old Erdogan. If he wins it, nothing can halt him, not even the constitution, from remaining in office for the remainder of his life and turning the country into a dictatorship erstwhile and for all. The question is, will he succeed?
