State-run Anadolu Agency⁠ reported that prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 30 suspects linked to alleged corruption involving municipal subsidiaries and public tenders. Twenty-nine suspects were detained, while one individual was reported to be abroad.

According to a statement cited by prosecutors, the investigation concerns the alleged “activities of a criminal organization established under the leadership of Ekrem Imamoglu.”Authorities accuse the suspects of manipulating public procurement processes through companies affiliated with the Istanbul municipality.

Imamoglu, who has been imprisoned for more than a year, is currently standing trial alongside 413 co-defendants. Prosecutors allege he directed a large criminal network operating within the municipality. If convicted on all charges, he could face cumulative prison sentences totaling 2,430 years under Turkish law.

The Istanbul mayor and his political allies deny the accusations and argue the investigation is politically motivated, accusing Erdogan’s government of attempting to sideline one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Imamoglu emerged as a major national challenger to Erdogan after securing repeated election victories in Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city and economic hub. Opposition parties have increasingly described the legal proceedings against him as part of broader pressure on dissenting political voices and municipal administrations controlled by the opposition.

The Turkish government has repeatedly denied accusations of political interference in the judiciary, maintaining that courts operate independently and investigations are conducted according to the law.

The amendment, backed by 57 of the 60 lawmakers in the Legislative Assembly dominated by Bukele’s ruling party, transfers full authority for appointing the five magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Court to Congress.

Under the previous system, three magistrates were nominated by the political parties that received the most votes in the last election, while the remaining two were chosen by the Supreme Court of Justice.The new rules remove that structure, giving the Legislative Assembly sole power over the appointments.

Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro defended the reform, saying it would eliminate partisan influence over the electoral authority.“No more party quotas.

No more personal agendas or interests in the highest electoral authority,” Castro wrote on X.Opposition groups and civil society organizations criticized the measure, arguing it would allow Bukele’s government to consolidate control over the body responsible for overseeing elections.

Non-governmental organization Accion Ciudadana said the changes were “designed so that the ruling party can fully control the electoral body.”Bukele, 44, has governed El Salvador since 2019 and won re-election in 2024 with 85% of the vote.

His administration has maintained exceptionally high approval ratings, largely driven by an aggressive anti-gang security strategy, but has also faced growing criticism from rights groups and opposition leaders over institutional weakening and concentration of power.Since taking office, Bukele’s government has overseen multiple constitutional reforms, including last year’s abolition of presidential term limits, clearing the path for him to run again in elections scheduled for February 2027.

Critics have described the country’s political direction as increasingly authoritarian, while Bukele has defended the changes as necessary to modernize governance and deliver security and stability.The five current magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Court were appointed in 2024 for five-year terms and are expected to oversee the upcoming general elections.

The latest reform adds to broader debate over democratic checks and balances in El Salvador as Bukele continues to tighten control over the judiciary, legislature and electoral institutions.