ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities ordered the detention of seven officials from opposition-run municipalities in Istanbul on Wednesday, broadcaster NTV said, as part of an ongoing crackdown against the main party opposing President Tayyip Erdogan.
The detentions follow the removal of the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Istanbul provincial head Ozgur Celik by a court on Tuesday over alleged irregularities in a 2023 CHP provincial congress.
That court ruling triggered sharp drops in markets, with Turkish stocks closing down 3.57 percent on Tuesday after earlier plunging more than 5 percent. Shares in the main BIST 100 were down 1.8 percent at Wednesday’s opening.
Turkish police detained five employees from Besiktas and two from Avcilar — two Istanbul municipalities — on Wednesday, NTV reported.
The CHP mayors of those districts are among 15 mayors jailed as part of a sprawling investigation into alleged corruption targeting CHP-run municipalities. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan’s main political rival, has also been arrested under the crackdown.
The CHP denies the accusations.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, who called Tuesday’s court ruling “completely illegal,” will address a party rally in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district on Wednesday evening.
The ruling on the CHP’s 2023 Istanbul congress could sway another court in the capital Ankara that is expected to rule in a separate case on September 15 that could oust Ozel from his position.
In that lawsuit, the court has been reviewing alleged procedural irregularities in the party’s 38th Ordinary Congress in 2023.
Turkish authorities order new detentions of opposition officials
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Turkish authorities order new detentions of opposition officials
IMF approves reviews, unlocks $240m in funding for Jordan
- The decision allows Jordan to draw about $130 million under the EFF and about $110 million under the RSF
AMMAN: The International Monetary Fund’s executive board has completed the fourth review of Jordan’s Extended Fund Facility and the first review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, unlocking immediate access to about $240 million to support the Kingdom’s economic program.
The decision allows Jordan to draw about $130 million under the EFF and about $110 million under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under the IMF arrangement to about $733 million.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the IMF said Jordan’s economy “remains resilient,” supported by sound macroeconomic policies and strong international backing.
Growth accelerated to 2.7 percent in the first half of 2025 and is expected to reach about 3 percent in the coming years, driven by major investment projects, deeper regional integration and continued structural reforms.
Inflation remains anchored at about 2 percent, while the current account deficit is projected to narrow to below 5 percent of GDP over the medium term. The IMF also noted that Jordan’s banking sector is stable and international reserves remain strong.
Fiscal performance continues to align with program targets, underpinned by robust revenue collection and disciplined current spending. The authorities remain committed to reducing public debt to 80 percent of GDP by 2028 through gradual fiscal consolidation, while protecting social and development spending and reducing losses at public utilities.
The IMF said progress under the RSF is ongoing, with reforms addressing vulnerabilities in the water and electricity sectors and strengthening health emergency preparedness. All reform measures scheduled for the current review have been completed.
Commenting after the board discussion, IMF Deputy Managing Director Kenji Okamura said Jordan’s continued macroeconomic stability amid persistent external headwinds reflects the authorities’ commitment to sound policies, supported by strong international assistance.
He said growth continues to recover, inflation remains low and reserve buffers are strong, stressing the importance of maintaining prudent fiscal and monetary policies amid regional tensions and global uncertainty.
Okamura added that accelerated structural reforms are essential to foster job-rich growth, improve the business environment, enhance labour market flexibility, tackle youth unemployment and low female labour force participation, and attract private investment.
He also underlined the importance of sustained donor support to help Jordan manage external challenges and the economic cost of hosting large numbers of refugees, while noting that progress under the RSF would help address long-term vulnerabilities and strengthen balance-of-payments stability.
