Deputy mayor election begins in Etimesgut: AKP fields no candidate, Yeni Party and CHP compete

An election for a deputy mayor has commenced in Turkey's Etimesgut municipality following the removal and detention of its mayor, Erdal Beşikçioğlu. The municipal council convened to select a new deputy mayor, a process that has seen the Cumhur Alliance, holding 12 seats, refrain from nominating a candidate.

The race for the deputy mayor position is now contested between Memet Özdemir of the Yeni Party and Seda Dilber from the Republican People's Party (CHP). The first round of voting saw 41 votes cast, with 29 valid ballots. However, neither candidate secured the necessary majority, as Özdemir received 18 votes and Dilber garnered 11, with 6 blank votes and 6 abstentions.

As a result, the election proceeded to a second round. This electoral process follows a police operation on July 30, which led to the detention of 55 individuals, including Mayor Beşikçioğlu and several deputy mayors. Subsequently, 40 people, including Beşikçioğlu, were arrested, while four were released under judicial control. The Ministry of Interior announced on August 3 that Beşikçioğlu had been suspended from his duties as a precautionary measure.