The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has successfully reclaimed leadership of the Uskudar municipality in Istanbul. This shift occurred during a city council vote conducted on Tuesday, following the imprisonment and subsequent suspension of the incumbent mayor. A judicial ruling prevented the designated successor from assuming the role, necessitating a new election for the acting position. AKP candidate Dundar Ziya Gultekin secured the post by obtaining 23 votes, surpassing the 19 votes cast for the Republican People's Party (CHP) representative, Sibel Tan Cetinkaya. This outcome marks a significant political reversal for the district, which had transitioned to CHP leadership under Sinem Dedetas during the March 2024 elections. Dedetas had previously ended thirty years of governance by conservative parties in this area, which is notable for housing the private residence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Source : Turkish Minute
