İzmir Labor and Democracy Forces organized a protest in Alsancak after Foça Mayor Saniye Bora Fıçı and Çiğli Mayor Onur Emrah Yıldız joined the AKP and amid claims that İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay would also join the party. Police blocked the march by citizens gathered in front of the ÖSYM building. After negotiations, citizens were directed to walk in groups of five without banners or slogans. Despite this, police intervened against citizens who marched to the Türkan Saylan Cultural Center while chanting slogans. Opposition MPs and CHP İzmir Provincial Chair Çağatay Güç also supported the protest. İzmir Bar Association Chair Sefa Yılmaz said in a press statement that mayors changing parties after elections eroded voters’ will. Yılmaz emphasized that in the 31 March 2024 local elections citizens voted not only for individuals but also for the programs and political identities of parties. He argued that the central government was trying to regain municipalities it had lost at the ballot box through political transfers. İzmir Labor and Democracy Forces opposed municipalities becoming subjects of political bargaining and the alteration of voters’ will.
5 October 2026
Karar