TURKEY: Oppo Ldr: Erdogan 'Has Strayed From Democracy'

Reuters reports comments from main opposition centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel. Says, following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, among hundreds of other politicians, journalists and businesspeople, that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "has strayed from democracy." Claims that Erdogan and the gov't "are taking away people's rights to elect who they want."

• A short time ago, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc delivered a statement claiming that "It is not right to make a prejudgment in favour or against without having any knowledge about the content of the investigation...The rule of law is essential, no one can be given privilege...The judiciary does not take instructions from anyone." Claims that Turkey "is a state governed by the rule of law". Says “the streets [are] not a place to defend justice” and that "Threatening members of the judiciary is also unacceptable. It is impertinent to associate the investigations and cases initiated by the judiciary with our President."
• Amid much market turbulence, there has been little reaction from foreign gov'ts. Reuters reported comments from an unnamed German gov't official claiming that "the last 24 hours do not give the impression that Turkey wants to make the discussion of defence cooperation with Europe easier."
• Given the critical strategic importance of Turkey for NATO concerning security in the Middle East (most notably in Syria), and its possible role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine, in addition to its position in slowing the flow of migrants to the EU, it is unlikely that gov'ts in Europe will prove highly critical of the arrests.