“Opposition playing Byzantine tricks over Imamoglu ruling”

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday accused the opposition of playing Byzantine tricks in their fight for the throne during a debate surrounding a court verdict which will give Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu jail sentence and a political ban if finalized by the Supreme Court.

Erdogan made his first public comment on the conviction of Imamoglu during a speech he made in Turkey’s southeastern city of Mardin.

“There is no final court decision yet. It will go to appeal first, then to the Supreme Court. If the local court made a mistake, necessary arrangements will be made there,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan also commented on the comparison made between his own political career which peaked after serving jail time while he was the mayor of Istanbul.

“This debate has nothing to do with us, myself, or our nation. Because, the subject consists of the conviction of a person who allegedly insulted the judges. There is neither a political debate, nor opinion, nor a struggle to serve. What is said and done makes us laugh but also makes us sorry,” he said.

Erdogan said the opposition bloc failed to nominate a candidate against him in the upcoming elections and added that some of the factions in the opposition were now trying to turn the tide in their favor by playing Byzantine tricks.

“The opposition alliance should come out and announce their candidate instead of trying to beat each other. We want to know with whom we will fight and with whom we will compete our vision,” Erdogan said.