Published: March 25, 2025 ✍️ By: Global Democracy Desk 🌍 Source: GlobalWorldCitizen.com
(GWC) – Global Governance & Freedom Watch:
After over two decades in power, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pushed Turkey’s democratic institutions to the brink. And with the recent arrest of Istanbul’s popular mayor and top opposition leader, Ekrem Imamoglu, many now fear that what remained of Turkish democracy is rapidly vanishing — with little global outcry to stop it.
A System Under Siege
Since rewriting Turkey’s constitution in 2017, Erdogan has steadily concentrated power in his hands. Today, the executive controls the judiciary, the military, and the media, leaving minimal checks and balances. While Turkey had long been considered a “competitive authoritarian” regime — where opposition parties could still win local elections — Imamoglu’s arrest on March 19, 2025, may mark the end of even that fragile illusion.
The Arrest That Changed Everything
Ekrem Imamoglu, the charismatic mayor of Istanbul and a rising political star, posed Erdogan’s greatest threat in years. His Republican People’s Party (CHP) shocked Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with major gains in recent local elections. Polls showed Imamoglu leading Erdogan ahead of the 2028 presidential race.
But now, Imamoglu sits behind bars, accused of corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated. Many observers, including legal experts, call the case baseless — a calculated move to eliminate a rival before he could mount a serious challenge. The message is clear: Erdogan is prepared to sacrifice democracy to preserve his reign.
A Pattern of Power Consolidation
Erdogan’s authoritarian drift isn’t new. Since surviving a failed coup in 2016, his government has arrested tens of thousands, crushed media freedom, shuttered civil society organizations, and targeted Kurdish political leaders and communities. Once a leader who promised democratic reform and EU accession, Erdogan has steadily eroded the democratic foundations he once claimed to uphold.
Now, as Turkey’s economic woes deepen and investor confidence wanes, the president is turning further inward — relying on repression instead of reform.
Where Is the Global Outrage?
Despite the significance of these developments, the international response has been muted.
The European Commission issued a timid call to “uphold democratic values.”
France and Germany offered stronger words, but no action.
The United States, under Donald Trump’s new term, appears largely indifferent to foreign democratic backsliding.
The European Union, still dependent on Turkey for refugee containment and potential cooperation in Ukraine, has been hesitant to confront Erdogan.
Meanwhile, Turkey remains NATO’s second-largest military power, making Erdogan a strategic player the West seems unwilling to challenge.
What Can Be Done?
There are still diplomatic tools available:
The EU can suspend talks on expanding Turkey’s customs union.
It can delay any participation in the bloc’s €150 billion ReArm Europe program.
It can make clear that no progress on EU accession will occur without democratic restoration.
But ultimately, the power to defend Turkey’s democracy lies not in Brussels or Washington — but in the hands of Turkish citizens.
The Power of the People
Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets across Turkey, defying riot police, tear gas, and water cannons to protest Imamoglu’s imprisonment. These brave citizens are Turkey’s last democratic safeguard — and they deserve global solidarity, media attention, and moral support.
Yet, sympathy alone is not enough.
“The silence of the international community echoes louder than any protest,” said one protester in Istanbul. “If democracy dies in Turkey, it won’t just be our loss — it will be a loss for the entire world.”
GlobalWorldCitizen.com Editorial Insight:
“Turkey’s unraveling democracy is not just a national crisis — it is a global alarm bell. The world cannot afford to normalize authoritarianism in the name of political convenience.”
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