Istanbul’s opposition-led municipal council selected an interim mayor on Wednesday to oversee the city following the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was jailed pending trial on corruption charges that he and his supporters deny, calling them politically motivated.

Imamoglu’s arrest last week, the political adversary of President Tayyip Erdogan, sparked the largest anti-government protests in Turkey in more than ten years, resulting in widespread arrests as hundreds of thousands took to the streets in mostly peaceful demonstrations, responding to calls from the opposition.

The jailing of Imamoglu on Sunday has been widely condemned by his main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), as well as by Western leaders, other opposition parties, and human rights organizations, who view it as an undemocratic move designed to eliminate a political rival to Erdogan.

According to Reuters reports, the government, however, denies any interference in the judiciary, asserting that the courts are independent. Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for over two decades, has dismissed the nationwide protests as a “show,” warned of legal repercussions, and urged the CHP to stop “provoking” the public.

The 314-member Istanbul municipal council, where the CHP holds a majority, elected Nuri Aslan from the party to temporarily lead the city, securing 177 votes, according to NTV. Aslan will serve as interim mayor until Imamoglu’s trial concludes.

In his first post on X, Aslan calls for hope to strengthen justice, stating, “We are embarking on the path to grow hope, strengthen justice, and establish the power of the people for Turkey’s beautiful future! Full speed ahead, we are marching towards power!”

The election of an interim mayor ensures that the government cannot appoint a trustee to oversee the municipality, as it has done in several other cities, particularly in the Kurdish-majority southeast, amidst a prolonged legal crackdown on the opposition.