Turkey prosecutors are demanding jail time in a case against Istanbul’s opposition mayor, state media said on Wednesday, a move that could bar President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival from contesting the next election.

Ekrem Imamoglu, the country’s most popular opposition leader, is facing two investigations that were opened against him earlier this year, which he has described as “judicial harassment”.

If he eventually gets charged, convicted and sentenced to jail, this would prevent him from contesting the next presidential election, due to take place in 2028.

Current opinion polls say that Imamoglu would beat Erdogan in the election.

In one of the cases, Imamoglu is accused of “insulting and threatening a public servant employee” in remarks that he made about Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor and a court-appointed expert witness involved in cases against town halls run by his CHP opposition party.

As part of the investigation, Imamoglu gave a statement to prosecutors last Friday, in which he said that he was simply exercising his right to free speech.

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On Wednesday local media reported that Istanbul’s prosecutor was demanding in an indictment that Imamoglu face up to seven years in jail and be banned from public service as part of the case.

Last week, Imamoglu, who in addition to the two investigations is also fighting several other legal cases, said that “we are experiencing the highest level of judicial harassment” and vowed to “keep on fighting against injustice”.

On Wednesday he wrote on X that “President Erdogan, who follows these trials closely … apparently thinks he will remain in power through games instead of presenting himself honourably before the nation in the elections”.

“Our nation no longer respects those who do not respect democracy,” he added.

A court will eventually decide whether to bring an indictment against Imamoglu on the prosecutors’ charges.