The decision has been in the air, as the political scope for Imamoglu would be limited. He has been the politician who could challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says Lindh at the Total Defence Research Institute, FOI.
The regime's tough grip is met with widespread protests, primarily in Istanbul.
This will lead to large new demonstrations. But considering that it's three years until the next presidential election, the question is how long one can endure demonstrating. A state of normality may set in after a few months.
Weak pressures
Political scientist Paul Levin at Stockholm University adds an additional international perspective to the explanations for Erdogan's government taking an iron fist approach to the opposition:
USA's President Donald Trump in power in the USA makes it undoubtedly easier for Erdogan, as Erdogan may not risk very harsh sanctions.
Moreover, Europe is forced to consider what steps to take.
The EU's and Europe's leaders face a difficult choice. Turkey is a problematic ally, says Levin, and reminds us that Turkey is one of the military alliance NATO's largest arms suppliers.
Levin, who is the head of the Institute for Turkey Studies at Stockholm University, simultaneously emphasizes that the Turkish regime's crackdown has desperate aspects:
It has become a game with very high stakes where he basically chooses to move Turkey towards becoming a full-fledged dictatorship.
Broad strategy
Analyst Aras Lindh sees a broader political strategy from the ruling AKP in the attempts to stop the opposition party CHP.
The government seems to want to drive a wedge into the Turkish broader opposition, says he, and refers to the recent negotiations between the government in Ankara and representatives of the Kurds, both the terrorist-listed PKK and the pro-Kurdish party DEM.
The measures are taking place in a sensitive situation. DEM has now ended up in a dilemma since they do not want to risk the process that could give strengthened rights to the Kurdish population.
Lindh notes that the Turkish government is using the same tactic that has been used against pro-Kurdish parties for many years.
They arrest politicians, and then forcibly take over the administration of municipalities and mayoral posts.
