logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
32m 34s

Turmoil in Turkey: the people vs Erdogan

THE TIMES
About this episode

The arrest and jailing of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkey’s main political challenger to President Erdogan, has sent shockwaves across the country. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest his detention and express growing concerns over Turkey's shift toward autocracy. Does this mark a turning point in Turkey’s democracy? And will Imamoglu still be able to stand in the 2028 presidential elections? 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Andrew Finkel,  journalist and author of Turkey: What Everyone Needs to Know

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producers: Sam Chantarasak and Edith Rousselot.

Further reading: The Erdogan I knew is a mirror image of the man he’s just locked up

Clips: BBC News, Euronews, Reuters, Sky News. 

Photo: Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com 




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Is there a succession drama at LVMH?
A six-part investigation by the French newspaper Le Monde has portrayed the luxury conglomerate LVMH as in the midst of a Succession-style drama, controlled by an ageing king: Bernard Arnault. Arnault made his first appearance on X to post a three-page sarcastic takedown of the p ... Show More
32m 48s
Yesterday
Why can’t Trump persuade women to have more children? - The Sunday Story
President Trump wants American women to have more babies. But despite policies like offering a baby bonus of a thousand dollars, birthrates continue to fall. So why are fewer Americans choosing to have children? And what does the answer reveal about the country today?This podcast ... Show More
28m 57s
Aug 1
How extreme breeding is making our pets sick - The Saturday Story
As demand for fashionable pets soars, vets and animal welfare charities say we're creating breeds that are destined to suffer. So, why are we prioritising cuteness over welfare? And what would it take to change the way we breed and buy our pets?This podcast was brought to you tha ... Show More
17m 35s
Recommended Episodes
May 2025
Turkey at a Crossroads: Protests, Crackdowns, and the Future of Democracy
<div> <p>The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has sparked the largest wave of public protests in Turkey in over a decade, signaling a potential turning point in the country's political trajectory. As the opposition rallies support and President Erdoğan intensifies his crac ... Show More
34m 48s
Mar 2025
What do the mass protests mean for future of Turkey & Erdogan?
<p>Since last week, Turkey has been rocked by mass protests over the jailing of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on thinly-evidence corruption and terrorism charges. These protests are widely seen as the most significant challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sin ... Show More
29m 23s
Mar 2025
Who is protesting in Turkey and why?
Thousands of people in Turkey turned out for a seventh night of protests which have so far seen more than 1,400 people detained, including students, journalists and lawyers. Demonstrations began in Istanbul on 19 March, when the city's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - who is seen as Presid ... Show More
10m 42s
Mar 2025
Not so delightful: Erdogan arrests rival
<p>Ekrem <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/03/19/erdogan-arrests-the-candidate-who-could-beat-him?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="n ... Show More
25m 33s
Mar 2025
Erdoğan, not Trump, is Europe's new best friend on security
Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor and the main political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been arrested. So what is Europe doing about it? Staying pretty quiet, it seems. Mass protests are breaking out across Turkey but Brussels is keeping its counsel. In this ... Show More
35m 58s
Mar 2025
Istanbul mayor, US-Russia talks and veterans
A Turkish court has jailed Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – President Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival – triggering huge protests. U.S. and Russian officials begin talks in Saudi Arabia aiming for a Black Sea deal ahead of a broad Ukraine ceasefire. And as the shrinking of ... Show More
12m 54s
Nov 2025
Erdogan Forever?
In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Gönül Tol to discuss democratic backsliding in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The conversation explores how Erdoğan's crackdown against Turkey's opposition ... Show More
49m 7s