In the midst of the polycrisis, democracy around the world is under constant threat. It continues to face the challenge of populism and is struggling to cope with deep social divisions, economic insecurity, and the effects of war and accelerating climate change. Authoritarian leaders have weakened key institutions of democracy in their countries, such as the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, and freedom of the press. In recent years, however, authoritarian leaders have been confronted by citizens willing to stand up and take to the streets in defence of democracy.
And just as there are citizens willing to defend democratic resilience, there are leaders willing to fight alongside them. One of them is the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, this year’s Helmut Schmidt Lecture speaker on the topic „For a Just Democracy!“ His commitment to equality, civic participation, and economic and social development policies at the local level demonstrates his strong dedication to democracy and his willingness to stand up against authoritarianism, which is why we cannot think of a better speaker for this topic.
In 2019, the CHP member won the race for mayor of Istanbul as an outsider, and he was re-elected in 2024 after his successful first term. His biograhy allows him to resonate with the diverse Turkish public across class, culture, religion and age making him a popular choice. He also represents hope for many who want to see a democratic transformation of the country.
In the forward-thinking spirit of Helmut Schmidt, we honour his engagement to democracy by bringing together inspiring individuals for an evening of rich discussion on how to strengthen democracy. Following the lecture and panel discussion, your expertise, impressions and thoughts will be incorporated into the discourse in small, moderated discussion groups.
