Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl Joins Ruling AKP Party

Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl has switched allegiance from the Republican People's Party (CHP) to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Bingöl, who was elected mayor of Istanbul's Tuzla district in 2024 as a CHP candidate, joined the AKP alongside Çekmeköy Mayor Orhan Çerkez and Sacit Terzi, who recently resigned from the CHP to become the acting mayor of Şile.

Bingöl, born in Istanbul in 1993, has lived in Tuzla since 2000. He graduated from Maltepe University's Faculty of Law and conducted studies on refugee policies in Italy through the Erasmus Plus program. His early involvement in theater and camp clubs, along with participation in social responsibility projects, helped develop his leadership skills. He also managed family businesses while studying law, which he stated reinforced his rights-based perspective on urban transformation.

His political career began at age 18 with the CHP, where he held various positions, including deputy district chairman responsible for legal and election affairs, district education secretary, and head of the district law commission. In 2019, he was elected Tuzla District Chairman, becoming one of Istanbul's youngest district leaders. During his tenure, he focused on issues like Tuzla's odor problem and the Konaslı region's zoning plan, collaborating with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to find solutions.

Following his election as Tuzla Mayor in 2024, Bingöl's party switch marks a significant shift in local politics. The article notes that Bingöl is married and has one child. The context of the party switch is linked to the arrest of Şile Mayor Özgür Kabadayı, after which CHP council members elected Sacit Terzi as acting mayor before he joined the AKP.