AKP regains control of Istanbul’s Üsküdar Municipality

Üsküdar Municipality AKP Nacho Sánchez Amor Turkish politics European Parliament

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has regained control of Istanbul’s Üsküdar Municipality following a contentious series of events. Nacho Sánchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, characterized the takeover as a ‘blatant power grab’ and a ‘mockery of democracy.’

The shift in power follows the arrest and suspension of the elected Republican People’s Party (CHP) Mayor, Sinem Dedetaş, on July 31. While the city council initially elected opposition candidate Sibel Tan Çetinkaya on August 5, an administrative court suspended that decision after an AKP challenge.

In the final round of voting, AKP candidate Dündar Ziya Gültekin defeated Çetinkaya with a 23-19 vote. The outcome was marked by political instability, including the defection of four council members from opposition tickets to the AKP and the arrest of two opposition council members pending trial. Observers note that the situation highlights concerns regarding the erosion of democratic processes and the ability of the opposition to govern in Turkey.

Entities

Justice and Development Party · Nacho Sánchez Amor · Republican People’s Party · Sinem Dedetaş · Üsküdar Municipality

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The AKP candidate Dündar Ziya Gültekin defeated Sibel Tan Çetinkaya 23-19 in the fourth round of voting. stockholmcf.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] Four council members elected on opposition tickets defected to the AKP. stockholmcf.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] The AKP regained control of the municipality after four rounds of voting. stockholmcf.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] Two opposition council members were arrested pending trial. stockholmcf.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] Nacho Sánchez Amor called the developments in Üsküdar a ‘mockery of democracy’. stockholmcf.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] The political and judicial system was distorted to reverse an opposition victory. stockholmcf.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] Nacho Sánchez Amor described the AKP takeover of Üsküdar as a ‘blatant power grab’. stockholmcf.org
[DISPUTED] Mayor Sinem Dedetaş of the CHP was arrested and suspended from office on July 31. stockholmcf.org

Sources

Atı alan Üsküdar’ın içinden de geçti! [www.tr724.com]

2 days ago

European Parliament rapporteur calls AKP takeover of İstanbul district a ‘blatant power grab’ - Stockholm Center for Freedom [stockholmcf.org]

2 days ago

[OPINION] Turkey’s opposition can win elections. Can it govern? [turkishminute.com]

2 days ago