Corruption allegations have surfaced in several municipalities of Turkey following their transition from the ruling coalition parties to opposition parties after the recent local elections, highlighting concerns over financial irregularities and mismanagement by the former administrations.
In the wake of Turkey’s local elections on 31 March, the political control of several municipalities, including districts of major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, transitioned from the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to the opposition parties, including the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. This shift not only reflected a change in political leadership but also marked the beginning of revelations regarding alleged financial misconduct by the previous administrations.
The change in governance brought to light various questionable activities, particularly concerning tender processes and the allocation of municipal funds. For instance, in Üsküdar, a district of Istanbul that switched allegiance to the CHP, there were reports of excessive spending on items such as water pastry, printed cups and desserts, amounting to millions of Turkish Lira. Similar instances of alleged financial imprudence were uncovered in other district municipalities in Istanbul like Tuzla, Beykoz, Çekmeköy and Eyüpsultan, raising questions about the necessity and transparency of these expenditures.
In Tuzla, contracts for newborn gift sets and park construction projects were hastily signed just before the administrative handover, prompting scepticism regarding the timing and motives behind these decisions. Sancaktepe, another Istanbul district, revealed a last-minute tender for an electric service vehicle, while Eyüpsultan engaged in substantial spending on carpet supplies for worship places and book purchases shortly before losing AKP control.
Moreover, Beykoz and Çekmeköy witnessed considerable tenders for playground equipment and service building maintenance respectively, finalised in the days leading up to the election. These actions have sparked discussions on the governance standards of the outgoing administrations and the challenges facing the new leadership in ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency.
The surfacing of these allegations after the elections underscores the wider concerns of accountability within local governance in Turkey, issues that are particularly pronounced in Kurdish regions and have led to criticisms of ‘colonialism’ by the Kurdish opposition, reflecting a strained track record with the Turkish government’s appointment of trustees.
