The Turkish Interior Ministry appointed a trustee to the Akdeniz Municipality in Mersin, which had been led by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, on January 13, following the arrests of Co-Mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Arslan. The ministry announced that Akdeniz District Governor Zeyit Şener would assume the role of acting mayor.
The Interior Ministry justified the decision as a “temporary measure” in line with Articles 127 of the Constitution and 47 of the Law of Municipalities. “Hoşyar Sarıyıldız has been temporarily suspended by the Ministry of Interior. Pursuant to Articles 45 and 46 of the Law of Municipalities, Akdeniz District Governor Zeyit Şener has been appointed as Acting Mayor by the Mersin Governorate,” the Ministry stated.
Mersin İli Akdeniz İlçe Belediye Başkanı ve Meclis Üyeleri İle İlgili Basın Açıklamamız: pic.twitter.com/qD6Dcut28u
— T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı (@TC_icisleri) January 13, 2025
This trustee appointment is part of a broader pattern of dismissals and trustee assignments in opposition-held municipalities, which has drawn sharp criticism from political figures and parties. Since the local elections of 31 March, the Interior Ministry has appointed trustees to nine municipalities, including seven won in the elections by the DEM Party and two by the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
DEM Party Co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları condemned the decision as “a direct attack on the democratic will of the people” and accused the government of “eroding the remaining fragments of democracy in Turkey”. She added, “They speak of dialogue and peace, but their actions show an unrelenting commitment to anti-democratic practices.”
Hatimoğulları’s counterpart, Tuncer Bakırhan, described the appointment as “a political assassination against the hope of coexistence”, asserting, “This regime of trusteeship is not about justice or democracy; it is about silencing dissent and perpetuating authoritarian rule. Peace cannot be built through repression and disregard for the will of the people.”
Mersin’s CHP Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer also criticised the move, calling it “a violation of the will of the people and a destructive decision for democracy and the rule of law”. In a social media post, he said, “The removal of officials elected just nine months ago through the will of the people and replacing them with trustees undermines public trust and democratic principles.”
The appointment has also sparked broader concerns about the government’s approach to addressing Kurdish issues and fostering reconciliation. The move comes amid ongoing discussions between the ruling coalition and pro-Kurdish political groups, facilitated by recent meetings with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and party delegations. These developments had raised expectations of potential democratic steps towards resolving the Kurdish question. However, the continued use of trustees undermines the credibility of these dialogues and signals a lack of genuine commitment to peace and reconciliation.
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