International voices are rising in opposition to Turkey’s recent move to replace democratically elected Kurdish mayors in several key municipalities with government-appointed trustees, a decision critics call an erosion of democracy and Kurdish political rights. Prominent European political bodies, including Germany’s Greens, the Socialist Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the Basque labour union LAB, have issued statements condemning these removals as undemocratic. The appointments affect the Kurdish-majority cities Mardin (Mêrdîn), Batman (Êlih), Halfeti (Xelfetî), and the İstanbul district of Esenyurt, where Kurdish leaders won local elections on 31 March 2024.
The removal of mayors elected on behalf of the People’s Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, Turkey’s largest pro-Kurdish party, has ignited criticism across Europe. Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities at the Council of Europe, expressed “deep concern” over the replacement of these leaders. “The recent dismissals of mayors are the latest instance of a trustee system seen as detrimental to local democracy by both the Congress and the Venice Commission,” said Cools. He stressed the right of local councils to select replacements in the event of mayoral dismissals, a recommendation the Congress reiterated last month. “We look forward to engaging Turkish authorities in a political dialogue to ensure the implementation of this recommendation,” he added.
The European Greens also voiced strong opposition, emphasising the fact that Turkey’s Interior Ministry had dismissed the elected Kurdish officials and replaced them with unelected trustees, thereby violating the right of Kurdish citizens to democratically choose their leaders. “The Kurdish people have the right to elect their own leaders,” a spokesperson said. The party urged Turkey to “end its repressive measures” and called for international support to restore democratic norms.
Frank Schwabe, German MP and leader of the Socialist Group in the Council of Europe, decried the move, saying, “Mardin, Batman and Halfeti’s mayors were democratically elected, and no government has the right to remove them. They must be reinstated immediately.”
Nacho Sánchez Amor, the European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur, framed the trustee system as a “direct assault on democracy”. The system, Amor argued, reflects a strategy by Turkey’s ruling party to undermine the will of the people. He insisted, “A clear EU response is necessary,” urging the European Union to impose consequences for what he described as Turkey’s “blatant disregard for democratic values”.
Criticism from Norway’s Red Party also resonated, with the MP Hege Bae Nyholt questioning Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide about steps the Norwegian government might take to protest against the undermining of Kurdish electoral rights. “In March 2024, Kurdish parties won local elections,” said Nyholt. “Now, Turkey has dismissed these elected officials, claiming alleged PKK ties, despite protests from both [Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party] DEM and the Republican People’s Party (CHP), who view this as an attack on democracy.”
Adding to these international rebukes, a solidarity statement came from the Basque labour union LAB, which called on Western nations to confront what it described as Turkey’s authoritarian approach to Kurdish autonomy. “The trustee appointments represent severe violations of Kurdish civil and political rights,” LAB declared, condemning Western “double standards” in their selective responses to human rights abuses. They urged the global community to intervene and support the Kurdish right to self-determination and national rights.
Swiss National Council member Fabian Molina and Swiss Left Party MP Lotta J. Fornarve also criticised Turkey’s actions as a blow to the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Molina remarked, “The Turkish people have the right to choose their political leaders,” while Fornarve affirmed full solidarity with the affected communities.
The growing condemnation also highlights an ongoing concern within European institutions about Turkey’s political trajectory. Emma Sinclair, Turkey Director for Human Rights Watch (HRW), noted that these recent trustee appointments coincide with the eighth anniversary of the arrests of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, former co-leaders of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). “Implement the European Court of Human Rights’ decisions and release Kurdish leaders now,” Sinclair urged.
The statements from international political leaders and organisations reflect a shared apprehension about the future of democracy in Turkey, particularly concerning the political representation and autonomy of Kurdish communities. Many are calling for more robust European responses, including potential sanctions, to hold Turkey accountable. As Europe continues to watch, Turkey faces increasing scrutiny over what critics see as an overt suppression of Kurdish political expression and a troubling departure from democratic standards.
