Istanbul’s opposition-controlled municipal council elected Nuri Aslan as interim mayor on Wednesday, following the jailing of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last week on graft charges.

The 314-member council, dominated by the main opposition party, voted 177 in favor of Aslan, who will now govern Turkey’s largest city for the remainder of Imamoglu’s term as the detained mayor awaits trial. Imamoglu’s detention has sparked widespread outrage, triggering the biggest anti-government protests in more than a decade. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across the country, leading to mass arrests as authorities cracked down on the demonstrations.

The interim appointment of Aslan marks a critical shift in Istanbul’s leadership as the city navigates this period of unrest and uncertainty. (ILKHA)