“The government should reflect on the meaning of democracy and freedom”

Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore supported the mayor of Istanbul and sent a message to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Lepore said, “There is no good climate. The government should reflect on the meaning of democracy and freedom.”

The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, described as the mayor of the metropolitan municipality of Istanbul and future president, has provoked an urgent reaction in Italy. In the afternoon, at 3 pm, a banner was displayed on the facade of Palazzo d’Accursio with the words “Free Ekrem İmamoğlu! On the side of the mayors who defend Democracy”. Mayor Matteo Lepore will participate in the ceremony, underlining the urgency of the situation. The Municipality recalled that Bologna is thus adhering to the appeal to ask for the release of the Mayor of the Turkish capital, arrested on March 19.

“There is no good climate; the Government should reflect on this hardening. Also, it is because tension and declarations of right-wing politicians and newspapers unfortunately accompany it. I ask the Government and the Italian right to reflect on what freedom and democracy mean”.

The mayor of Bologna said this on the sidelines of the display of a banner in favor of the release of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdogan’s primary opponent, arrested in recent weeks, on a facade of the town hall.