Controversial Decision: Istanbul's Mayor's Degree Called Invalid, But Is It a Political Move?
Istanbul's Mayor, Imamoglu, rejected claims about his academic credentials.
Get ready for some political drama in Turkey! The main opposition party, CHP, is gearing up to nominate Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, as their presidential candidate—a move that could potentially challenge President Erdogan. But here's the catch: Imamoglu's university degree has been revoked, and he needs that degree to run for the presidency.
That's right! Istanbul University has taken back the degree of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, and 27 others, citing "obvious errors" and declaring their degrees invalid due to improper university transfers. Critics view this decision as a political stunt designed to bar Imamoglu from the presidential elections, scheduled for 2028, given that Turkish law demands presidential candidates to possess a university diploma.
Imamoglu has slammed the decision as "illegal," claiming that the university's move was expected, considering the ongoing investigations against him. His legal team has already announced plans to challenge the decision. Interestingly, the revocation of Imamoglu's degree doesn't affect his current role as mayor; he was re-elected in March 2024.
A Political Rival on the Rise
If successful in his bid for the presidency, Imamoglu would undoubtedly be a formidable opponent to President Erdogan. Alongside the CHP mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, Imamoglu is considered one of Erdogan's most formidable rivals. He's already submitted his candidacy for the 2028 presidential election and is set to be officially nominated this Sunday.
However, Imamoglu is no stranger to controversy. He's also facing trial for "insulting and threatening a public official." He's accused of insulting an Istanbul prosecutor and a court expert. In February, he publicly denounced "judicial harassment at the highest level" before thousands of supporters.
The revocation of Imamoglu's degree and the other legal battles he faces have raised concerns over political interference in the electoral process and the use of legal mechanisms to influence political outcomes.
- Turkey
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan
- CHP
- Elections
[1] University of Istanbul revokes Imamoglu's degree over irregularities in 1990 transfer. (2023, May 5). ntv.de, jwu/AFP/dpa.[2] Turkish Main Opposition Leader Says Removing Mayor's Degree is Political. (2023, May 5). Voice of America.
The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, in light of the controversy surrounding the revocation of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's degree, may find it necessary to scrutinize the validity of political moves aimed at barring candidates from elections, as seen in Turkey.
Critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan view the revocation of Imamoglu's degree as a political stunt, given the ongoing investigations against him and the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2028.
As Imamoglu navigates through legal battles and political controversies, it remains uncertain if the AFP's report on the revocation of his degree will influence the upcoming CHP's nomination of him as their presidential candidate this Sunday, reinforcing the need for a transparent and fair electoral process in Turkey.
