Politics · Turkey · 2 hrs ago
Opposition says government control has expanded to 156 Turkish municipalities
An opposition lawmaker says control shifted in 156 Turkish municipalities after the March 2024 local elections.
İbrahim Arslan’s study, based on election council data through October 12, counts defections, trustee appointments and other changes in local government.
It says 106 elected mayors joined the ruling AKP after winning on other party tickets or as independents.
The study also identifies 13 municipalities run by government-appointed trustees and 11 where arrests and council changes shifted control to the ruling bloc.
Arslan says the changes brought 130 municipalities the AKP did not win at the ballot box under government control, raising its total from 541 to 671.
The study says the affected municipalities have 36.6 million eligible voters, and that 50 of the 411 municipalities won by the CHP passed out of its control.
The opposition accuses the government of using pressure and judicial action to reverse election gains, while Arslan urged opposition groups and voters to defend election results.
An opposition lawmaker says government actions have brought 156 Turkish municipalities under government control since the March 2024 local elections.
İbrahim Arslan’s study says 106 mayors elected for other parties or as independents later joined the ruling Justice and Development Party.
The study also identifies 13 municipalities where elected mayors were replaced by government-appointed trustees and 11 where arrests and council changes shifted control.
Arslan says these changes expanded the ruling party’s tally from 541 municipalities won in 2024 to 671.
The government’s actions include defections, trustee appointments and judicial measures, according to the study.
- Who
- İbrahim Arslan, a lawmaker from the opposition New Party, presented the findings.
- What
- He says government actions have brought 156 municipalities under government control since the 2024 elections.
- When
- The changes have occurred since the March 2024 local elections; the study covers developments through October 12.
- Where
- Turkey.
- Why
- Arslan accused the government of using pressure, judicial action and control over municipal funding to reverse opposition election gains.
Opposition parties and lawmaker İbrahim Arslan
Turkish government
Government control of municipalities
Opposition parties and lawmaker İbrahim Arslan
Arslan says defections, trustee appointments and judicial action shifted control of 156 municipalities after the elections.
Turkish government
Not stated in the source.
Pressure on mayors
Opposition parties and lawmaker İbrahim Arslan
Arslan accused the government of using threats, blackmail, possible criminal investigations and control over municipal funding to pressure mayors to switch parties.
Turkish government
Not stated in the source.
Local elections were held, with the CHP finishing first nationwide and the AKP winning 541 mayoralties.
İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was jailed pending trial, after which the crackdown on opposition municipalities intensified.
The study examined changes in municipal administrations through this date.
Turkish Minute reported Arslan’s study and its findings.
- Municipalities under government control
- 156, according to Arslan’s study
- Mayoral defections to AKP
- 106
- Trustee appointments
- 13 municipalities
- Council changes and arrests
- 11 municipalities
- AKP mayoralties
- 541 won in 2024; 671 after the changes, according to Arslan
- Combined electorate
- 36,564,021 across the 156 municipalities
What people are saying
The AKP added 130 municipalities it had not won at the ballot box to its tally through methods used after the elections.
Sources
Related news
Azerbaijan accuses Turkish officials of inflaming tensions over school headscarf ban
Former Turkish deputy minister jailed pending trial in fund investigation
İstanbul Bar Association files complaint over claims of favors in judicial hiring
Turkey plans fund investor advances of up to 1 million lira in October
Turkey’s ruling party seeks damages over coverage of investment fund scandal
Turkey’s AK Party files three compensation lawsuits over alleged false claims
Average time for divorce cases in Turkey fell to 163 days in 2025
Turkish groups seek review of writer Sabahattin Ali’s 1948 killing
HSK Takes Action Over Sexual Harassment Allegation Against Ankara Judge
Turkish judicial council opens investigation into judge over video call allegation
