The mayor of Istanbul and presidential candidate of Turkey’s Social Democratic Party, Ekrem İmamoğlu, has been imprisoned. In this podcast, Paul Ronzheimer speaks with journalist Deniz Yücel to explore the background and implications of this development. The episode illustrates how Turkey has steadily shifted from democracy toward authoritarianism under Erdogan’s rule.
When Erdogan was first elected, there was hope that he could balance religion and democracy in Turkey — but that hope has faded. The current situation serves as a warning for other democracies worldwide. Even in the United States, former President Donald Trump questioned democratic institutions during his brief tenure.
You can listen to the podcast here on Podigee.