Opposition member Nuri Aslan elected deputy mayor of Istanbul

The Istanbul City Council elected Nuri Aslan from the opposition party as acting mayor on Wednesday, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the Istanbul Municipality has announced.

Nuri Aslan, a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the current deputy mayor, was elected with 177 votes. His rival, Zeynel Abidin Okul of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), received 125 votes. The outcome allows the CHP to retain control of the municipality despite İmamoğlu’s detention.

İmamoğlu was remanded in custody on March 23 on corruption-related charges and suspended from office by the Interior Ministry.