EVEN IF HE LOSES AT THE LOCAL ELECTIONS, HE WILL STILL BE THE WINNER
Local elections are expected to be held on March 2019. There is a chance that elections will be called early—before the negative effects of the economic crises begin to impact daily life—but now a surprise from Erdogan has changed everything once again.
Decree no 17 (August 9, 2018) includes the municipalities in the list of state institutions defined in Statute 4749.(*)
This is a devastating attack on local government because from now on, before the end of each month all municipalities will have to declare their planned expenditures (and their economic investments) for the coming month, and will not be able to spend if their budgets are not approved.
So what will this mean where opposition win local elections? Erdogan will be able to cut off their economic lifeblood any time he wants, effectively turning them into zombie institutions.
Remember this: 107 municipalities are currently being managed by “trustees” (government appointees). Nearly 200 elected mayors were dismissed. In march 2018, 55 of them were in prison. 15 of them have been sentenced to imprisonment of -totally- 109 years and 6 months).(Source: Prime Ministry Communication Center)
(*) Law No.4749 (March 28, 2002) JDP (AKP) came to power after the elections on November 3, 2002. This law was made by the former Government of Bülent Ecevit, the coalition of DSP, MHP and ANAP. Only, JDP added one sentence to Article 12 of due law, in 2018.
Added sentence: (March 21, 2018- 7013-55) The president is authorized to define the institutions to be included to the coverage of this law.