# TESK presidential election > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tesk-presidential-election > Updated: 2026-09-30T09:09:29.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2. Following the 22nd Ordinary General Assembly in Ankara, Mehmet Yiğiner was elected as the new President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK). 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 concluded Bendevi Palandöken’s 19-year tenure. During the assembly, Palandöken announced he would not submit a list for election, citing an ‘unfair and unequal environment.’ He further noted that the management and audit reports were not approved by the assembly and expressed dissatisfaction with the proceedings. This followed earlier allegations by Palandöken regarding suspicious money transfers made to delegates under the guise of ‘salaried consultancy.’ 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 regional leaders such as Hasan Geriter from Manisa and Şevket Keskin from Malatya. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-30: Mehmet Yiğiner elected President of TESK Mehmet Yiğiner has been elected President of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), succeeding Bendevi Palandöken, who declined to run due to concerns over election fairness. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mehmet-yiiner-elected-tesk-president-after-palandken-withdraws ### 2026-09-19: Mehmet Yiğiner rejects smear campaigns ahead of TESK election TESK presidential candidate Mehmet Yiğiner rejected smear campaigns and asserted that delegate votes are not for sale ahead of the September 30 General Assembly. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mehmet-yiiner-rejects-smear-campaigns-ahead-of-tesk-election --- Cite as: TESK presidential election. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tesk-presidential-election