Turkish authorities have arrested former Izmir (Smyrna) mayor Tunj Soyer as part of the Smyrna General Prosecutor’s Office investigation into corruption cases. A total of 157 arrest warrants were issued, including the one for the former mayor.

Tunj Soyer, who served as mayor of Izmir for five years until the 2024 municipal elections, belongs to the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), as does Constantinople Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was also arrested on corruption charges on March 19. Izmir is considered the stronghold of the CHP.

The charges relate to irregularities in the awarding of projects under the municipality’s urban renewal program.

Among those arrested are the general managers of the municipal construction company İz Beton and the municipal water supply company İZSU, as well as the head of the CHP’s Izmir Prefectural Committee.