The operations and trusteeship measures against mayors elected with the votes of the people have spread to Istanbul, the country's largest city. The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested in an operation announced weeks ago. Social media was blocked, public transport was restricted and the Istanbul Governorate declared a four-day ban on protests during the operations, which targeted 106 people on charges of 'terrorism' and 'corruption'. Citizens took to the streets in protests in many parts of the country, calling the events a 'coup'.

Support for Imamoğlu from Newroz areas: 'This operation is against us too'

The co-chairs of the DEM party have reacted to the arrest of İmamoğlu during the Newroz celebrations in Van and Tatvan. Tuncer Bakırhan said: "This political operation is also against us. Urban reconciliation is not a crime'. Tülay Hatimoğulları said: 'Let all the peoples of Turkey know that we condemn this political coup together.

A sustained coup dynamic

Prof. Dr. Cangül Örnek: We see that Turkey is now in a process without elections or a process in which elections are held for show. Therefore, it is necessary to define very clear principles for a common struggle. A stance should be taken that corresponds to the seriousness of the situation.

Journalist and writer Kemal Can: There have been hundreds of events that have rendered all institutions and concepts dysfunctional for ten years. They were called 'civil coup', 'constitutional coup', etc. However, it has been postponed that a coup dynamic has been formed and it is necessary to construct a political response accordingly. 

Political scientist Dr Zafer Yörük: We understand from Bahçeli's statement that there is a collective state decision. The fact that such a process is being prepared is a strong message that the state will not be handed over to İmamoğlu.

The cost of the operation is also being felt in wages:
Minimum wage eroded by 4,195 liras in a matter of hours

Wage earners in Turkey suffered a serious economic loss with yesterday's operation. The Central Bank sold $10 billion in one day. The stock market lost more than 7 per cent of its value. The minimum wage, which was 689 dollars 5 days ago, fell to 579 dollars and the monthly loss increased to 110 dollars. While this loss was equivalent to TL 4,195 in Turkish lira, the total loss of 8 million minimum wage workers was TL 402.7 billion. The short-term foreign debt increased by 448 billion liras in one day.

The workers of the defence industry, who were in the collective bargaining period and received a 7.4 per cent inflation differential this month, lost the increase in a single day. The salary of 1077 dollars fell by 77 dollars to 1000 dollars in just one day. The same worker's salary also lost value against the euro and gold. On the basis of euro, 3 thousand 100 TL were lost and on the basis of gold, 1 gram of gold was lost. The workers in the defence industry suffered losses of 7 to 9 per cent in terms of foreign currency, euro and gold. (EVRENSEL DAILY)