Ekrem Imamoğlu, the currently detained Mayor of Istanbul and President Erdoğan’s chief political rival, is facing yet another criminal investigation. The latest inquiry relates to the expansion of municipal daycare centers in Istanbul, a project he has championed.
| Jailed Istanbul Mayor faces new investigation over daycare centers |
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Writing on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Imamoğlu stated:
“I am being investigated for opening daycares. I would gladly give my statement, but I am currently in detention. Otherwise, I would defend with all my strength the daycares we built for the children of this city. We will continue committing this so-called crime. I entrust the daycares of our future generations to the nation.”
The recent investigation against İmamoğlu reportedly includes claims that some daycares were opened without proper legal authorization, though his supporters see this as a politically motivated attack.
| Jailed Istanbul Mayor faces new investigation over daycare centers |
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Since taking office in 2019, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has prioritized expanding access to early childhood education, particularly for low-income families. Since the beginning of the program, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has opened 111 city-funded and city-run daycare centers, with a goal of 150 in total. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) launched a large-scale initiative to establish new public daycares (referred to as “İBB kreşleri”) to provide free or low-cost education for children aged 3-6.
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Turkey historically has had lower daycare enrollment rates compared to many European countries. Publicly funded daycares are limited, and private options are often too expensive for low-income families. Expanding daycares was also positioned as a policy to support working mothers by providing accessible childcare, enabling more women to enter or stay in the workforce. However, the initiative was met with staunch opposition from the central government, which controls Turkey’s Ministry of National Education.
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Critics argue that the ruling government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s AKP, saw İmamoğlu’s daycare initiative as a political challenge, while government-affiliated media claim that the daycares were being used to promote opposition ideology.
| Jailed Istanbul Mayor faces new investigation over daycare centers |
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Imamoğlu’s detention rocked the nation
Imamoğlu, a key opposition figure and a member of CHP, has been a vocal critic of the ruling government. Since his initial election victory in 2019, he has faced multiple legal challenges, widely seen by his supporters as politically motivated attempts to hinder his political career, while government supporters maintain that these investigations are part of a broader anti-corruption effort. His 2019 mayoral win marked a significant blow to the ruling party, as Istanbul had been under its control for over two decades.
Imamoğlu, President Erdoğan’s current chief political rival, has a high likelihood of emerging victorious from CHP’s primaries, which are set to be held this Sunday (March 23). His detention and imprisonment earlier this week have sparked widespread protests across Turkey.
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