Nuri Aslan Elected:: CHP's candidate, Nuri Aslan, was elected as the Deputy Mayor of İBB in the third round of voting.
Election Results:: Aslan secured 177 votes, defeating the AK Party candidate Zeynel Abidin Okul, who received 125 votes. The election required three rounds as a two-thirds majority wasn't achieved initially, but a simple majority was sufficient in the final round.
Council Composition:: The CHP holds a majority in the İBB Council with 185 members, compared to AK Party's 120, MHP's 7, and BBP's 2. However, several CHP members were unable to vote due to arrests.
Preventing Trustee Appointment:: Aslan's election by the council prevents the immediate appointment of a government trustee (kayyum) to run the municipality, a measure previously applied to other opposition-led municipalities.
Why this matters:: This election ensures that İBB remains under the administration of an elected official chosen by the council, maintaining a degree of local democratic control despite the mayor's absence.
The election followed the controversial arrest of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Turkish law mandates that if a mayor is suspended, the municipal council elects a deputy mayor from among its members to serve in the interim. Nuri Aslan was already serving as the acting deputy mayor since İmamoğlu's detention on March 20, 2025, based on İmamoğlu's designation.
The İBB Council meeting saw two candidates competing: Nuri Aslan (CHP) and Zeynel Abidin Okul (AK Party Group Deputy Chair). The first two rounds required a two-thirds majority (210 votes out of 314 current members), which neither candidate achieved. The third round required only a simple majority, which Aslan secured with 177 votes.
Born in Sivas in 1969, Nuri Aslan is a graduate of Yıldız Technical University (Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering). He has a background in business and extensive political experience, including:
Küçükçekmece Municipality Council Member (1999-2004)
Various roles in NGOs and business associations (Kızılay, BEYSİAD, İSİFED, KODAV)
Beylikdüzü Municipality and İBB Council Member (since 2019)
Elected as İBB Council's 1st Deputy Speaker on April 15, 2024.
The potential appointment of a government trustee (kayyum) loomed over the election. This practice, enabled by controversial legal changes following the 2016 coup attempt, has seen numerous mayors, primarily from the DEM Party (formerly HDP), removed and replaced by state appointees, often citing terrorism-related investigations. Recently, this has extended to CHP municipalities like Esenyurt and Şişli. Legal experts argue the practice contradicts constitutional principles of local governance, but it remains a tool used by the central government. Aslan's election by the council sidestepped this possibility for İBB, for now.
Who is Nuri Aslan?
Nuri Aslan is a CHP politician and engineer, now serving as the Deputy Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality after being elected by the İBB Council.
Why was a new Deputy Mayor needed?
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested and suspended from duty, necessitating the election of a deputy to fill the role according to municipal law.
What does this election mean for İBB?
It means İBB continues to be governed by an elected official chosen by the municipal council, avoiding the appointment of a government trustee (kayyum) at this time.
Continuity of Governance:: Nuri Aslan's election ensures that the administration of Istanbul continues under the leadership chosen by the elected council members.
Political Significance:: The election outcome temporarily alleviates concerns about a state-appointed trustee taking over İBB, a significant development given the political context in Turkey.
Understanding Trustee Appointments:: The situation highlights the ongoing political tensions and the use of legal mechanisms like trustee appointments, which bypass local electoral mandates.
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