site.btaTurkiye's Main Opposition Party Holds 45th Rally in Support of Arrested Mayors

Tens of thousands gathered in Istanbul's Bayrampasa district late on Wednesday for the 45th consecutive rally of Turkiye's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in support of arrested and suspended opposition mayors, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Anka News Agency reported.

Since March 19, the CHP has organized such demonstrations every Wednesday in different districts of the metropolis.

Imamoglu, seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief political rival, was detained on March 19 on corruption charges, prompting mass protests described as the largest in Turkiye since 2013. On March 23, a court extended his detention, and a few days later the Istanbul municipal council removed him from office.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel used the rally to call for snap elections on November 2, vowing to defeat Erdogan at the ballot box. He also promised to reveal new damaging information about the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), according to pro-opposition media outlets Oda TV and Halk TV. Ozel also spoke about the drastic reduction of pensions and the minimum wage, and the depreciation of the Turkish lira amid inflation under the AKP.

Protesters carried banners reading "Freedom for the Mayors" and "Imamoglu for President" and chanted anti-AKP slogans. Opposition MPs and CHP representatives from other regions took part in last night’s rally.

A message from Imamoglu, currently held in Silivri Prison, was read out at the rally.

Istanbul prosecutors have opened an investigation into Ozel over a statement he made on Wednesday, alleging "insults to the president through 'ugly' political language and threatening messages," TRT Haber reported.

Meanwhile, Erdogan's AKP is marking its 24th anniversary in Ankara on Thursday, with celebratory events with the participation of the TurkishPresident. 

On Wednesday, Erdogan announced that new members are expected to join the party, said TRT Haber. According to media reports, Ozlem Cercioglu, a three-term Aydin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor of CHP, is set to defect to the ruling party in a move seen as a major blow to the opposition.