Turkey’s practice of appointing trustees to municipalities undermines local democracy and damages the country’s reputation, İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu declared during a solidarity visit to removed Mardin (Mêrdîn) co-mayors on Saturday.
İmamoğlu, who also heads the Union of Municipalities of Turkey, visited former Mardin Metropolitan Municipality co-mayors Ahmet Türk and Devrim Demir at Türk’s home in Derik district. The co-mayors were removed from their positions on 4 November, replaced by government-appointed trustees.
“This situation makes us ashamed and bows our heads. It is a circumstance that damages the Republic of Turkey’s reputation,” İmamoğlu said during his visit, accompanied by Republican People’s Party (CHP) vice presidents Gökçe Gökçen and Gül Çiftci, along with other municipal leaders.
Ahmet Türk welcomed the delegation’s visit as significant and meaningful. “Democracy cannot be achieved through trustee politics. We want justice and law to prevail. Policies that marginalise peoples must be abandoned,” he said.
İmamoğlu revealed he had discussed the issue with leaders of 10 political parties. “We discussed how this implementation is unlawful and poorly executed, with the municipal council being disregarded representing a separate violation of law,” he explained.
“Instead of discussing how to strengthen local governance, we are unfortunately talking about trustees in the Republic’s second century,” İmamoğlu added, emphasising that the practice affects municipalities across Turkey, including districts in İstanbul.
