Imamoğlu: When it comes to the 25% increase in electricity, the accusers are silent.

"Let's not forget that in countries like ours; as much law and democracy, so much bread and jobs," said İmamoğlu, addressing the government: "You will leave, and this country will get back on its feet."

Imprisoned Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu responded to the 'slanders' directed at him, which he claimed were made against him, through the electricity price hike, stating, "Those who slander us without any shame or embarrassment from morning till night go silent when it comes to the 25% hike in electricity." The IMM Mayor continued: "Do you know why they are silent? Because they know very well that they are dragging the country into a great disaster. Unfortunately, the entire nation pays the price for the power hunger of a handful of people." Stating that no one trusts the judiciary in Turkey, İmamoğlu pointed out that the only reason for this is the 'mind' that has politicized him. İmamoğlu criticized the 'impunity': "There are earthquakes, no accountability; there are fires, no accountability; there are floods, no accountability; those who launder black money are showing off in front of the nation; gangs are being formed over the lives of newborn babies; drug traffickers are running rampant, and still, there is no accountability. Those who roar like lions at the opposition, students, and youth shrink when it comes to these issues, looking for a place to hide. This is the injustice that has brought the economy to this state and made citizens lose their trust in the future." "Let's not forget that in countries like ours; as much law and democracy, so much bread and jobs," said İmamoğlu, addressing the government: "You will leave, and this country will get back on its feet." What happened? İmamoğlu was taken into custody one day after his diploma from Istanbul University was revoked on March 18, and then arrested on March 23 as part of a 'corruption' investigation. This entire process came after the investigations that had been opened against the IMM Mayor in recent weeks and prior to the pre-selection for the CHP's presidential candidacy. At the beginning of these investigations, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had also said, "They know very well that the bigger turnips are still in the bag. This is the reason for their panic." However, on the same day as his arrest, İmamoğlu was declared the CHP's presidential candidate with nearly 15 million votes. Subsequently, he was suspended from his position as IMM Mayor by the decision of the Ministry of Interior. CHP Municipal Council Member Nuri Aslan was elected as the acting IMM Mayor in place of İmamoğlu. The mass protests triggered by İmamoğlu's detention and subsequent arrest turned into the largest demonstrations seen in Turkey in over ten years. The police responded to the protests with tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannons. In many major cities across the country, especially Istanbul, security forces are harshly intervening against demonstrators. Along with the protests, the numbers of detentions and arrests are also increasing. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the protests as a 'violent movement.' Economists estimate that the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey intervened with up to 25 billion dollars in support of the lira within the three days that İmamoğlu was in custody.