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Üsküdar deputy mayor election rescheduled amid political shifts
The political landscape in Üsküdar has shifted significantly following the arrest and removal of Mayor Sinem Dedetaş on August 1 due to allegations of bribery and forming a criminal organization. An initial deputy mayor election held on August 5 saw CHP candidate Sibel Tan Çetinkaya elected, but the AK Party challenged the results, citing irregularities.
The Istanbul 2nd Administrative Court subsequently issued a stay of execution, and after an appeal by Çetinkaya's legal team was rejected by the Regional Administrative Court, the Istanbul Governor's Office announced that the election would be rescheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026. The Governor's Office clarified that the date complies with the 10-day legal requirement mandated by the Municipal Law.
In a major development ahead of the new vote, four CHP municipal council members—Ahmet Başbaydar, Ayhan Aydın, Hüseyin Kazan, and Tahsin Usta—resigned from the CHP to join the AK Party. This move, along with the detention of three other CHP council members in a separate operation, has altered the council's arithmetic, strengthening the Cumhur İttifakı's position. While the defecting members stated their move was to better serve Üsküdar without external pressure, CHP officials have alleged that political pressure is being applied to council members to influence the upcoming election.
Entities
AK Party · CHP · Dündar Ziya Gültekin · Istanbul Governor's Office · Istanbul Governorship · Republican People's Party · Sibel Tan Çetinkaya · Sinem Dedetaş · Üsküdar Municipality
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] In the initial August 5 election, CHP candidate Sibel Tan Çetinkaya was elected deputy mayor after four rounds of voting. www.diken.com.tr
- [● 6 SOURCES] The AK Party challenged the election results, alleging irregularities during the voting process. www.diken.com.tr · www.kentgazetesi.com · www.izgazete.net · www.gazetezebra.com.tr
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Istanbul Regional Administrative Court rejected the Üsküdar Municipality's appeal against the decision to renew the deputy mayor election. www.izgazete.net · sonsoz.com.tr
- [DISPUTED] Mayor Sinem Dedetaş was arrested and removed from office on August 1 following allegations of bribery and forming an organization for criminal purposes. www.diken.com.tr · www.izgazete.net · www.kentgazetesi.com · sonsoz.com.tr · www.haberaktuel.com
- [DISPUTED] The Üsküdar Municipality deputy mayor election is scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 5. www.diken.com.tr
- [● 10 SOURCES] Four CHP municipal council members—Ahmet Başbaydar, Ayhan Aydın, Hüseyin Kazan, and Tahsin Usta—resigned from the CHP to join the AK Party. haber.mynet.com · www.akishaber.com.tr · haber.sol.org.tr · www.sabah.com.tr · www.turkgun.com · +4 more
- [DISPUTED] The Istanbul Governor's Office scheduled the Üsküdar Municipality Council meeting for September 5, 2026, to comply with the 10-day legal requirement following the vacancy of the mayoralty. www.kentgazetesi.com · www.baskentgazete.com.tr · www.takvim.com.tr · www.tgrthaber.com · sonsoz.com.tr · +1 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Istanbul Regional Administrative Court rejected the appeal against the decision to stay the deputy mayor election. www.izgazete.net · www.yenikonya.com.tr · sonsoz.com.tr · www.gazetezebra.com.tr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir alleged that pressure is being applied to council members ahead of the rescheduled election. yurtsever.org.tr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş was arrested and removed from office on allegations of bribery and forming a criminal organization. www.izgazete.net · www.diken.com.tr
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Istanbul 2nd Administrative Court issued a stay of execution on the election of Sibel Tan Çetinkaya as deputy mayor. www.izgazete.net · www.diken.com.tr · sonsoz.com.tr · www.gazetezebra.com.tr