Can democratic backsliding capture lawfare? Post-31 March lawfare in Turkey and its repercussions

Following the decisive setback in the 31 March 2024 local elections, the incumbent Justice and Development Party launched a severe lawfare campaign targeting the main opposition party’s newly elected leadership, municipalities, and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. Criminal investigations not only tarnished the opposition leadership but also unseated its elected mayors and led to İmamoğlu’s arrest and disqualification from presidential candidacy. This direct intervention in the elections is widely regarded as a key driver of further autocratization of Turkey’s political regime. In this context, the article examines how the lawfare after 31 March unfolded, its scope and reach, and the legal strategies and tactics deployed against İmamoğlu. It then considers the implications of lawfare as a primary driver of Turkey’s regime transformation.