Üsküdar Municipality deputy mayoral election suspended by court

The Istanbul 2nd Administrative Court has suspended the execution of the decision regarding the election of the Deputy Mayor of Üsküdar Municipality. The court ruled that the election process, held on August 5, 2026, lacked objectivity, neutrality, and transparency. Specifically, the court noted that five votes cast in the third round were deemed invalid despite the candidates' preferences being clearly identifiable.

The legal dispute follows the removal and arrest of Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş on charges including bribery and forming an organization for criminal purposes. Following Dedetaş's removal, the municipal council elected Sibel Tan Çetinkaya of the CHP as deputy mayor, defeating AKP candidate Dündar Ziya Gültekin. The AKP challenged the results, leading to the court's intervention to prevent irreparable harm.

In response to the court's decision, the Istanbul Governorship announced that the First Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council will perform the duties of the Mayor until a new deputy mayor is officially elected. Üsküdar Municipality issued a statement clarifying that the court's decision is a suspension of execution rather than a mandate for a new election, and argued that the invalid votes would not have changed the final outcome.