Mehmet Yiğiner elected President of TESK

Mehmet Yiğiner has been elected as the new President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK) following the organization’s 22nd Ordinary General Assembly in Ankara. Yiğiner, who also serves as the President of the Türkiye Drivers and Automobile Owners Federation (TŞOF), entered the election as the sole candidate.

The election marked the end of Bendevi Palandöken’s 19-year tenure as TESK President. During the assembly, Palandöken announced he would not submit a list for election, citing an unfair and unequal environment. He noted that the management and audit reports were not approved by the assembly and expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions of the proceedings.

In his address, Yiğiner stated his intention to unify various unions and federations to strengthen the economic and physical structures of tradesmen organizations. His new management board includes several regional leaders, such as Hasan Geriter from Manisa and Şevket Keskin from Malatya.