President Erdogan launched a crusade to claw the municipalities his party lost in 31 March local elections. So far, 5 opposition-held mayors have been ousted on trumped-up terror charges, with investigations launched on CHP-held Istanbul, Ankara and Beykoz (borough of Istanbul) municipalities on suspicion of wasteful spending. According to pro-opposition journalist Ms. Hilal Koylu up to 40 more mayors may be under the ax.
The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office has opened a probe into allegations of illicit expenditures at some public events organised by the Istanbul municipality, marking the latest legal challenge to opposition-run districts in Turkey.
The office said late on Wednesday it would investigate “irregular spendings” to determine whether the public experienced financial harm, without elaborating.
The Ankara chief prosecutor’s office has also launched an investigation into two concerts organised by the Ankara municipality on Republic Day celebrations on Oct. 29.
The municipalities, which are Turkey’s two largest cities and both run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), deny the allegations.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party, CHP, has condemned new investigations opened into opposition-held municipalities in Istanbul, Istanbul’s Beykoz district and Ankara, as “outright judicial harassment”.
Investigations led by the prosecutors’ office target alleged misuse of public funds, especially over municipal social events, including concerts held on national holidays. The investigations will examine selected municipal accounts for the last three years.
“No one surpasses us in accountability. We stand by our word; if anyone is at fault, they will face the consequences. We expect the same behaviour from all public institutions and municipalities,” Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas wrote on his X account on Wednesday.
Both Imamoglu and Yavas are seen as possible opposition contenders in the next presidential elections in 2028 against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to news from MHP, Bahceli is opposed to ousting mayors, which may have been one of the topics of the summit held on Thursday between him and Erdogan.
Using the judiciary to sack opposition mayors will significantly undermine Turkey’s muck weakened democracy and will probably further undermine relations with EU.
The rumors of mass sackings come at a time when Erdogan declared his candidacy for a third term, even though the current constitution doesn’t allow a third run. He and nationalist ally Bahceli are attempting to change the constitution which will automatically grant the incumbent an extra term. Some experts claim the crusade to depos opposition mayors is a way of blackmailing CHP and the champion of Kurdish Equality movement, DEM Party to cooperate in the writing of a new constitution.
Sacking of mayors in Kurdish cities and Istanbul’s Esenyurt triggered modest protests, which may explode into national unrest, if the alleged ousters do take place.
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