Reinstated Balçova Mayor Onur Yiğit resumes duties: 'I became more ambitious politically'

Balçova Mayor Onur Yiğit has officially returned to his post, resuming his duties at the municipal building after the Ministry of Interior announced his reinstatement. Yiğit, who had been suspended pending an investigation and was later released under judicial control, was welcomed back by municipal staff with traditional music and celebrations.

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Balçova’s honorable and brave mayor Onur Yiğit has returned to his post. During this period, we managed the duty entrusted to us with great responsibility. We continued the projects initiated by our Mayor Onur and the service understanding he put forth for Balçova. Today, I hand over this trust to Mayor Onur Yiğit with great happiness and pride.

His return marks the end of Selahattin Yıldız's tenure as acting mayor, who had been managing the municipality during Yiğit's absence. Yıldız formally handed over the mayoral office to Yiğit, expressing his satisfaction with the two-month period. "Balçova's honorable and brave mayor Onur Yiğit has returned to his post. During this period, we managed the duty entrusted to us with great responsibility. We continued the projects initiated by our Mayor Onur and the service understanding he put forth for Balçova. Today, I hand over this trust to Mayor Onur Yiğit with great happiness and pride," Yıldız stated.

Yiğit shared his joy at returning, thanking everyone who supported him during the challenging two-month period, which he described as emotionally intense for him and his family. He asserted his faith in the judiciary and legal system, stating, "I believed in the judiciary, the law, and the judicial authorities. Because I would not do anything to harm the people of Balçova for the sake of any position or material value. Because we believed we did not make a mistake and only thought of service, we received the support of many people today." He specifically thanked İzmir's deputies, the public, clubs, chambers, and non-governmental organizations, noting their validation that their support was for his service to Balçova and İzmir.

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I missed you all very much. Two months have been very intense emotionally for me and my family. Much has been said, written, and rumors have been generated. I did not pay attention to any of them. I believed in the judiciary, the law, and the judicial authorities.

"I missed you all very much. I have been experiencing very intense emotions for two months. Much has been said, written, and rumors have been generated. I did not pay attention to any of them. I believed in the judiciary, the law, and the judicial authorities. Because I would not do anything to harm the people of Balçova for the sake of any position or material value. Because we believed we did not make a mistake and only thought of service, we received the support of many people today. The support of İzmir deputies, the public opinion of İzmir, clubs, chambers, and NGOs. They thanked me. They said, 'The reason we stood by you is not just you personally; it is the good services you have provided, your standing by Balçova, your standing by İzmir.' This was very valuable to me."

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The reason we stood by you is not just you personally; it is the good services you have provided, your standing by Balçova, your standing by İzmir. This was very valuable to me.

Yiğit declared that the support from the people of Balçova has intensified his determination to serve. "We were elected with 62 percent. Today, we have over 85 percent satisfaction. I used to think, 'I will complete some things, then hand them over to a friend.' However, after this process, I am thinking of pushing that handover date forward. I have become more ambitious politically, more ambitious in terms of service. The struggle will not end, the passion for service will not end. 85 percent is not enough, 95 percent will be ours, 100 percent will be ours. We will work very hard," he stated.

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I have become more ambitious politically, more ambitious in terms of service. The struggle will not end, the passion for service will not end. 85 percent is not enough, 95 percent will be ours, 100 percent will be ours. We will work very hard.