Politics · Other · 6 hrs ago
Muğla Mayor Ahmet Aras leaves CHP and says he will serve as an independent
Muğla Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Aras has left the CHP and says he will continue in office as an independent.
Muğla is a province in Turkey, and the CHP is the party under which Aras took office.
He said political disputes involving him had overshadowed work on the city’s problems and were not helping residents.
The decision follows disputes linked to his visit to Syria, which drew criticism from some CHP figures.
Aras said he would focus on services including infrastructure, transport, protecting nature and supporting producers.
He also said he would work with public bodies, parties and local groups on issues that benefit Muğla.
Aras says he will remain independent, and told a newspaper he would not join the AKP.
Muğla Mayor Ahmet Aras announced that he had left the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and would continue as mayor independently.
He said political discussions about him had taken attention away from work for the city and brought no benefit to Muğla or its residents.
Aras said his decision was based on his responsibility to the city and its needs.
He pledged to serve residents equally and continue working on infrastructure, transport, nature protection and support for producers.
He also said he would cooperate with public institutions, political parties and other organisations on issues benefiting Muğla.
- Who
- Ahmet Aras, mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality.
- What
- He left CHP membership and said he would continue as mayor independently.
- When
- 16 October 2026.
- Where
- Muğla, Türkiye.
- Why
- He said political discussions about him were overshadowing work for the city and were not benefiting Muğla or its residents.
Ahmet Aras
Aziz Gürsoy, CHP Muğla Provincial Disciplinary Board chair
Party membership
Ahmet Aras
Aras said he had left CHP and would continue his mayoral duties independently.
Aziz Gürsoy, CHP Muğla Provincial Disciplinary Board chair
Gürsoy said that if the situation continued, he would personally apply to CHP headquarters for Aras’s expulsion.
Aras’s political standing
Ahmet Aras
Aras said his decision reflected his responsibility to Muğla and its residents.
Aziz Gürsoy, CHP Muğla Provincial Disciplinary Board chair
Gürsoy said Aras no longer had an emotional bond with CHP and should be expelled.
He left acting mayoral duties to Mehmet Tahça, a member of the metropolitan municipal council from the New Party, prompting controversy.
Aziz Gürsoy said he would apply to CHP headquarters for Aras’s expulsion if the situation continued.
Aras announced that he had left CHP and would continue as mayor independently.
- Mayor
- Ahmet Aras
- Municipality
- Muğla Metropolitan Municipality
- Party left
- Republican People’s Party (CHP)
- Announcement date
- 16 October 2026
- Acting mayor during Syria visit
- Mehmet Tahça, a New Party member of the metropolitan municipal council
- CHP disciplinary board chair
- Aziz Gürsoy
3 sources
What people are saying
My side is Muğla.
I will continue independently.
My priority is the peace and prosperity of our fellow residents and the future of our city.
If this situation continues, as provincial disciplinary board chair I will personally apply to headquarters for Mr Aras’s expulsion.