Backlash against the government grows following the arrest of İmamoğlu! How did columnists view this situation?

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor and the CHP's presidential primary candidate, who was detained on March 19 as part of an investigation into "terrorism" and "corruption" conducted against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, was arrested on the afternoon of March 23 at the Çağlayan Courthouse, where he had been brought on the evening of March 22.

İmamoğlu was arrested as part of the investigation into "corruption" at the İBB on charges of "rigging a tender, recording personal data, bribery, and establishing an organization."

So, how did columnists interpret the arrest of İmamoğlu?

Rahmi Turan: The AKP government has lost significant points!

Sözcü columnist Rahmi Turan:

"So what happened after Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested? Believe me, he has grown even larger in the eyes of the public. The nation has stood by İmamoğlu, and in reality, the AKP government has lost significant points! If an election were held today, İmamoğlu would win the Presidency by a wide margin. The government did not expect such resistance from the public! However, they still seem unaware that they are doing the wrong things! Hundreds of thousands, even millions of citizens gathered across the country to support İmamoğlu in the squares.

In the primary election held by the CHP yesterday for the Presidential candidacy, very long queues formed, and large crowds, both party members and non-members, rushed to vote.

It is clear that this support will continue to grow. No matter what the government does, it cannot prevent İmamoğlu's rise or the society surging like ocean waves to sincerely support him!"

Necati Doğru: This will go down in history as a "white revolution"

Sözcü columnist Necati Doğru:

"From now on, Tayyip Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli cannot hold onto the seat of power. They came through elections, and they will leave through elections. They will be forced to bring the ballot box before the public as soon as possible. This will go down in history as a 'white revolution,' and it will be written that Turkey carried out a 'democratic revolution' without breaking, destroying, hurting brothers, or shedding blood."

Saygı Öztürk: Can a trustee be appointed to Istanbul!

Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk:

"There are those who interpret İmamoğlu's arrest on corruption allegations rather than terrorism charges as, 'This situation has eliminated the possibility of appointing a trustee to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.' Indeed, while a trustee was appointed to the Şişli Municipality, no trustee was appointed to the Metropolitan Municipality, and it was decided that a Deputy Mayor would be elected on March 26. İmamoğlu was not arrested on 'terrorism' charges, but the judge states in the decision that 'while there is strong suspicion of the crime of aiding an armed terrorist organization, he is already being arrested for financial crimes.'

A legal expert I spoke with said, 'If there is a reason for arrest, the person is arrested. It does not matter how many separate crimes they are being tried for. These are definitely planned interim decisions. They are trying to create the perception that no trustee will be appointed.'

Some legal experts stated that a trustee cannot be appointed because a deputy will be elected on March 26."

Mustafa Karaalioğlu: Sending İmamoğlu to prison has started an "Ekrem agenda" that will not cease from today onwards

Karar columnist Mustafa Karaalioğlu:

"What could the government be hoping for by sending İmamoğlu to prison? Certainly, to finish him politically... İmamoğlu will be made into a corrupt and irregular man and will fall from the public's favor. He will not be able to be a presidential candidate, and even because he will appear corrupt, the opposition will have no chance of winning. The scales will tip back in favor of the government. Life will be a celebration!.. Needless to say, this is a wrong calculation, and despite the heavy cost it will produce, it is impossible for it to be a result. Despite the damage it will cause to democracy, the legal order, the society's sense of living together, and the economy, life will not be a celebration. Sending İmamoğlu to prison has started an 'Ekrem agenda' that will not cease from today onwards. He will inevitably sit at the center of the agenda both as a victimized mayor whose rights have been violated and as a presidential candidate. While they want to throw him out of the game, he will hold the most valuable stage of the game in his hands. He will leave Istanbul's agenda, and his prison days will now become the country's issue."

Mehmet Ocaktan: I rebelled against what was done to Erdoğan, should I applaud what is done to İmamoğlu?

Karar columnist Mehmet Ocaktan:

"I don't know if it means anything to some, but for me, just as it was a virtuous stance to stand by democracy and the law when Tayyip Erdoğan was entering prison, it is an equally fair stance to oppose the guardianship coup carried out today against Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was elected by the votes of a city of 16 million."

İbrahim Kahveci: Our country is practically a country of corruption, and while it is being done personally, no one comes out to ask about December 17-25

Karar columnist İbrahim Kahveci

"Do you think the issue is corruption allegations in the İBB? The perception among everyone is that there is fear of Ekrem İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy and that he is not wanted. The diploma issue first, and the detention order the very next morning, already express a lot.

Why were these decisions taken in such a rush? Because Ekrem İmamoğlu announced his presidential candidacy and had decided on a primary. Trolls close to the government had written long ago that Ekrem İmamoğlu would not see March 23. And they also talk about an independent and impartial judiciary!

A trial known in advance by some but not by those accused... Doesn't the saying 'the biggest radish is in the bag' already express all the facts?

Our country is practically a country of corruption, and while it is being done personally, no one comes out to ask about December 17-25; no one comes out to ask about the countless corruption allegations. But the cost of this will be very high."

Fikret Bila: The public will elect İmamoğlu at the first opportunity, just like Demirel, Ecevit, and Erbakan

Halk TV columnist Fikret Bila:

"The government is trying to sideline İmamoğlu with the finalization of the diploma cancellation decision or a sentence of more than one year. Even if the government prevents İmamoğlu's candidacy, it cannot succeed in keeping him out of politics. Our recent political history is full of examples of this. Even if the government keeps İmamoğlu out of the race in this election, the public will reverse this. At the first opportunity, they will elect İmamoğlu, just like Demirel, Ecevit, and Erbakan."

Zeki Ceyhan: It is clear that a 'thornless rose garden' is targeted in the country's politics

Milli Gazete columnist Zeki Ceyhan:

"It is clear that a 'thornless rose garden' is targeted in the country's politics. A thornless rose garden, meaning politics without an opposition! Well, can there be a thornless rose? However, for those targeting a thornless rose garden, this question has no importance! They continue to do as they please."