Six Bursa mayors resign from CHP, join Yeni Parti amid 'democracy crisis'

A significant political shift has occurred in Bursa, Turkey, as six mayors belonging to the Republican People's Party (CHP) have resigned from their posts and joined the newly formed Yeni Parti (New Party).

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Today, 43 percent of Turkey's population is not governed by a mayor they elected. Our city, Bursa, is certainly among the places experiencing the most devastating consequences of the democracy crisis we are going through.

The departing mayors include Erkan Aydın of Osmangazi, Şadi Özdemir of Nilüfer, Şükrü Deviren of Gemlik, Deniz Dalgıç of Mudanya, Şükrü Erdem of Mustafakemalpaşa, and Haşim Ali Arıkan of Harmancık. They made their announcement at a press conference held in front of the Atatürk Monument in Heykel, accompanied by municipal council members.

Nihat Yeşiltaş, the provincial head of Yeni Parti in Bursa, indicated that these defections are a response to a "democracy crisis" in Turkey. He specifically pointed to the situation of Mustafa Bozbey, the Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, who was suspended from his duties amid an investigation into alleged bribery and corruption. Yeşiltaş stated, "Today, 43 percent of Turkey's population is not governed by a mayor they elected. Our city, Bursa, is certainly among the places experiencing the most devastating consequences of the democracy crisis we are going through."

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Our mayors who prefer to walk with the people and serve approximately 60 percent of Bursa's population at the district level; our Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın, our Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir, our Gemlik Mayor Şükrü Deviren, our Mudanya Mayor Deniz Dalgıç, our Mustafakemalpaşa Mayor Şükrü Erdem, our Harmancık Mayor Haşim Ali Arıkan, and all our elected municipal council members in the districts are joining the New Party today by protecting the will of our people.

Yeşiltaş further detailed the scale of the party switch, announcing that three national deputies, 16 out of 17 district chairs, and their executive boards have joined Yeni Parti. He also claimed that 94 percent of municipal council members in Bursa have switched allegiance, and that party members are joining Yeni Parti in large numbers. He asserted that the Bursa organization has acted for the future of the country and the Republic, vowing to continue the struggle regardless of the circumstances.

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Today, 3 of our honorable national deputies are in the New Party. 16 of our 17 district chairs and our 17 district administrations have moved to the New Party. The entire Provincial Administration has moved to the New Party. 94 percent of our Municipal Council members have moved to the New Party. Members have started to switch to the New Party en masse.