AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING WAS HELD AT THE KUŞADASI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL: TAHSIN DEMIRTAŞ ELECTED AS THE ACTING MAYOR OF KUŞADASI

While Mayor Ömer Günel's trial process continues under detention, the Kuşadası Municipality Council convened an extraordinary meeting with a single agenda item. The Municipal Council met under the chairmanship of Deputy Council President Salim Tümer Apaydın to elect an acting mayor.

The extraordinary meeting was held in accordance with Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393 and Article 127 of the Constitution, as per a letter sent by the Ministry of Interior. At the meeting, attended by all council members, political party groups nominated their candidates for the acting mayorship. The Republican People's Party (CHP) nominated Tahsin Demirtaş, while the Nation Alliance (Millet İttifakı) proposed Tacettin Özden. The İyi Parti (Good Party) did not nominate a candidate.

In the election, which was conducted by secret ballot, all 31 council members cast their votes. Following the counting, Tahsin Demirtaş, who received 23 votes, was elected Acting Mayor of Kuşadası. Tacettin Özden, the candidate of the Nation Alliance, received 3 votes, while 3 votes were blank and 2 were deemed invalid. With this result, Tahsin Demirtaş was unanimously elected to the position of Acting Mayor, securing the support of two-thirds of the council members.

Speaking after the election, Acting Mayor Tahsin Demirtaş emphasized that the election was not a race for office, saying;

“This is not a mayorship election. I was elected as an acting mayor for the interim  of our mayor, Ömer Günel’s detention, who is currently imprisoned in Silivri. Ömer Günel is the mayor of Kuşadası and will be released and return to his duties as soon as possible. Our duty during this process is to safeguard this trust and steer this ship to a safe harbour. I thank all the council members who entrusted me with this responsibility.”