Nazilli, Turkey: Debate intensifies over potential new province status

Discussions regarding the potential elevation of Nazilli to a province in Turkey have resurfaced following a social media study and political debate. A proposed administrative model suggests a new province centered in Nazilli, comprising eight districts: Nazilli, Sultanhisar, Bozdoğan, Kuyucak, Karacasu, Buharkent, and Yenipazar from Aydın, plus Buldan from Denizli.

The proposal also suggests upgrading certain settlements, such as Atça, İsabeyli, and Pamukören, to district status. Based on projected 2025 population data, the proposed province would have a total population of approximately 307,956 and a surface area of about 3,840 square kilometers.

Aydın Deputy Süleyman Bülbül addressed concerns that Nazilli’s separation might cause Aydın to lose its metropolitan municipality status. Bülbül argued that even if Nazilli and its surrounding region of 400,000 people were removed, Aydın’s population of 1.162 million would remain well above the 750,000 threshold required to maintain metropolitan status. Bülbül expressed intention to bring the matter to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to investigate why Nazilli was omitted from recent lists of candidate districts.