Here we are back after midterms with our dearest Monday Briefing. In today’s issue we dive into what has been happening in Turkish politics recently. In other news, Donald Trump dismantles departments and a new diplomatic meeting takes place in Asia. Closer to home, Serbia is once more on the streets and the EU pledges to rearm.
Spotlight: Istanbul Mayor arrest sparks protests.
Political turmoil returns to Turkey this week, as a new major event shocked millions of citizens. The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been arrested along with 100 other politicians on charges of corruption and connection to terrorist organizations (namely the famous PKK). On Sunday the arrest was finally formalized by a court, even though it specified that it is for financial crimes and not for terrorism. Many external observers believe that behind this move by Turkish public authorities lies the hand of President Erdogan.
Ekrem Imamoglu is by many considered as a rising star in Turkish politics. At the age of 49, in 2019, he run for mayor of the largest city in the country, Istanbul, and narrowly won against the candidate supported by the central government. Erdogan, which had been the mayor of Istanbul himself, took it as a personal blow. The election was annulled by the Supreme Electoral Council and had to be repeated soon after, and Imamoglu confirmed his victory by even a larger margin. In 2022 he was condemned for “insulting electoral officials” with regards to the 2019 election annulment and was sentenced to more than 2 years of prison, which he never served as the case has not yet been discussed by higher courts.
Due to his wide popularity in Istanbul and in the whole nation, Imamoglu was by many considered the obvious presidential candidate for the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the main opposition force to Erdogan’s AK Party. New presidential elections in Turkey are set to be in 2028, but many expect the country to face them earlier, as this would allow Erdogan to run one last time for the presidency. Despite the arrest, this Sunday, the CHP primaries confirmed Imamoglu, the only candidate present, to be the party’s presidential nominee.
All this background should make very clear why many see in this arrest the long hand of Ankara’s sultan. Erdogan has done all he can to maintain power as long as possible and undermining the main opposition candidate is the first and most effective way. Another attack at the Imamoglu candidacy has been done through the technical requirements to be President of Turkey. Article 101 of the Constitution states that: The President of the Republic shall be elected directly by the public from among Turkish citizens over forty years of age who are eligible to be a deputy and have completed higher education. The University of Istanbul has unexpectedly revoked the mayor’s degree due to a problem in the transfer procedure from another university in Cyprus, thus making him not eligible for the presidency.
The Turkish population, in Istanbul and in other parts of the country, did not take the arrest lightheartedly. Protests have been organized continuously since Wednesday and the police have arrested hundreds. The CHP has called these actions a “coup against the next president” and rallied its supporters around Imamoglu, who has of course vowed not to bow to this anti-democratic move. The future of Turkey and of Turkish democracy lies again at a crossroad, as Erdogan’s 22-years-old grip on the country is challenged by a new generation of Turkish politicians.
Around the World
Donald Trump signs executive order to ‘eliminate’ Department of Education
U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated the process of dismantling the Department of Education, fulfilling a key campaign promise. During an elaborate ceremony, Trump signed an executive order to begin shutting down the department, with children mimicking his actions as he held up the document. He argued that eliminating the department was necessary, claiming it had failed in improving U.S. education. However, critics, including Democrats and education advocates, condemned the move, warning of its potential harm to students.
The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to facilitate the closure, but congressional approval is required. Trump linked the department’s elimination to broader government downsizing, citing layoffs and buyouts of bureaucrats. Although Republican lawmakers like Senator Bill Cassidy support the plan, legislative hurdles and court challenges are expected. Critics warn that essential educational programs, including financial aid and support for marginalized students, could be at risk as the legal battle unfolds.
Japan, S Korea, China meet to strengthen ties at ‘turning point in history’
The foreign ministers of Japan, South Korea, and China have agreed to seek common ground on regional security and economic cooperation amid growing global uncertainty. Meeting in Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasized the importance of dialogue in overcoming divisions.
This marks the first trilateral meeting since 2023, occurring as U.S. President Donald Trump’s shifting foreign policies alter long-standing alliances. Wang highlighted the need for historical reflection, particularly regarding World War II, to foster future cooperation. He also advocated for resuming free trade talks and expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Despite the push for unity, key issues remain, including China’s support for North Korea and its military activities around Taiwan. Cho urged Beijing to discourage North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, while Iwaya is set to discuss China’s ban on Japanese seafood imports in a separate meeting.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed 50,000 Palestinians since October 2023
The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 50,000 since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. More than 113,000 people have been wounded, while thousands remain missing, likely buried under rubble. The war began following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed approximately 1,139 people and resulted in around 250 captives. Despite a ceasefire agreement in January 2024, Israel has continued its military operations, rejecting the second phase of the truce, which required withdrawing from Gaza. Recent airstrikes have intensified, killing over 600 people—including 200 children—since Tuesday.
Israel has also escalated operations in Rafah and Beit Hanoon, forcing evacuations. Meanwhile, Gaza faces severe shortages of essential supplies due to an Israeli blockade. Humanitarian organizations and several countries, including France, Germany, and the UK, have urged Israel to allow aid into the besieged territory.
European News
by Cristiana Murè
Call for investigation over use of acoustic weapon on Serbian student-led protest
On March 15, 2025, 325,000 people marched in Belgrade against President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration. This protest, the largest in recent Serbian history, represents the culmination of the rising tension since the tragedy of November 1, 2024, in Novi Sad, where the collapse of a railway’s concrete canopy killed 15 people. The first reaction came from Serbian students, which started organizing frequent peaceful demonstrations across the country, characterized by 15-minutes of silence in honor of the 15 victims, and against the government’s corruption, linked to the canopy’s collapse.
During the March 15 protest, a sudden, intense noise led to panic and prompted people to move away from its source. Many subsequently reported symptoms like headaches, nausea, disorientation, and ear pain. This led to claims that Serbian security forces used a Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) on the crowd, also referred to as a “sound cannon,” despite its use being prohibited in many countries, Serbia included. Audiovisual documentation of the fact has been provided by media outlets.
After the denial of the event by President Vučić and other high-ranking officials, Serbian rights groups, opposition leaders, and civil society organizations demanded an independent investigation, which obtained more than 590,000 signatures in less than a week, emphasizing the importance of the establishment of an objective commission to investigate the alleged use of prohibited weapons against peaceful protesters.
From ‘Rearm Europe’ to ‘Readiness 2030’: the Commission’s proposal
The “White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030” was recently issued by the European Commission. Since the announcement of the “Rearm Europe” campaign, Italian and Spanish leaders’ concerns seemed to have prompted changes in the scope and the name of the program. The latter, while remaining centered around a general increase in the EU military industry, now highlights the commitment to finance a broader variety of sectors and bridge capability gaps among Member States.
On March 4, President von der Leyen declared that more than €800 billion would be distributed, as part of the Rearm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, following these guidelines:
- Invoking the National Escape Clause: the Commission’s invitation to the MSs to invoke the national escape clause in the Stability and Growth Pact, which would provide them more financial flexibility to boost defense spending while abiding to EU fiscal regulations.
- The new Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument: raising up to €150 billion on the capital markets to help incentivize the MSs investments in Europe’s defence capabilities. These funds will be made available as competitively priced long-maturity loans to MSs upon demand, based on national goals.
- European Investment Bank (EIB) Involvement: lastly, to mobilize private money and strengthen the financial base of the defence sector, the Commission’s plan calls for utilizing the EIB Group to broaden its lending scope to defense and security projects. The ultimate objective would be that of safeguarding its financial capacity while sending a positive message to the markets.
Every week, your TiL Monday Briefing 🗞: you better read it with a cup of coffee! ☕️
Head of the Monday Briefing column: Pietro Ferrari. Current writing staff: Vatsal Aggarwal, Cristiana Murè. Cartoons by Polina Mednikova. The Monday Briefing column was established in its current form in 2021 by Bojan Zeric.
I have spent most of my life in India before recently moving to Milan, where I am pursuing an MSc in Finance at Bocconi. I am interested in politics, art and culture, cinema, and travelling. Through my writing, I aspire to document important voices and present opinions. In my free time, I try to keep up with my movies-to-watch list, sample as many restaurants as I can, and find cats to pet.
I am currently completing a MSc in Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology at Bocconi University. Through writing, I try to analyze and comprehend the world around me, while also reflecting my interest for behavioral economics, philosophy, and physics. A deep curiosity motivates me to always explore different fields and consider various and contrasting perspectives.
