In central Turkey’s Yozgat, around 100 tractors blocked roads on Saturday as part of an anti-government rally led by Turkey’s main opposition party, CHP. The protest came exactly a month after the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular opposition mayor of Istanbul and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival. Imamoglu’s detention sparked Turkey’s largest street protests in a decade and led to the arrest of nearly 2,000 people.
Although the initial protests have faded, unrest continues with ongoing student protests and regular rallies called by CHP leader Ozgur Ozel.
Ozel Leads Tractor Convoy, Calls for Government Resignation
Ozel, wearing a flat cap, led a tractor convoy through Yozgat, a region historically supportive of Erdogan’s AKP and its nationalist allies. Thousands of flag-waving protesters rallied, chanting “Government, resign!”
Ozel addressed the crowd, warning authorities not to crush the hardworking farmers of Yozgat, adding:
“We will not let you crush these hard-working farmers!”
Frustration Over Hunger and Rising Costs
One tractor driver told Anka news agency that the government’s policies have left them struggling with hunger and rising costs:
“We came here to support each other. We can’t afford anything because of hunger and thirst. Our government should stop being partisan and deal with people’s hunger.”
Imamoglu’s Letter Supports Early Elections
At the rally, organisers read a message from Imamoglu, who urged supporters to push for early elections:
“If the government were to call early elections today, the economy would get back on track.”
The ongoing protests reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of Turkey’s political and economic crises, especially as students and farmers unite to demand change.
