Turkey's acting mayor slams Europe for ignoring democratic backsliding
Nuri Aslan, Istanbul's acting mayor, has criticised Europe's response to Turkey's democratic decline. Speaking after accepting an award for jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamğlu, he accused the EU of turning a blind eye to political repression. According to Aslan, Europe's economic and military reliance on Turkey has weakened its stance on human rights.
Aslan received the European Committee of the Regions' Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award on behalf of İmamğlu, who remains imprisoned. The Istanbul mayor is one of 16 CHP officials currently behind bars, a situation Aslan calls politically driven. He claims the legal cases against İmamğlu aim to neutralise a rising politiko to President Erdoğan.
Formal EU accession talks with Turkey have been frozen since 2016 over concerns about rule of law and democracy. Yet the EU continues funding refugee care and border security under the 2016 migrant deal, while maintaining military ties through NATO. Despite strained relations, Europe still conditions progress on reforms, with no realistic path to membership.
Aslan remains optimistic about Turkey's future, calling the current political climate temporary. He insists the country's future lies with Europe and predicts a CHP-led government would quickly restart EU membership negotiations. İmamğlu, seen as Erdoğan's strongest potential challenger, remains a key figure in this vision.
The award ceremony highlighted Turkey's ongoing political tensions and Europe's balancing act. While the EU funds refugee programmes and values Turkey's NATO role, it has not pushed hard for democratic reforms. Aslan's remarks underscore the CHP's determination to reset relations if it gains power.
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