Turkish opposition reacts to government's trustee appointments

Duvar English

Oppositional figures from Turkish politics have criticized the Nov. 4 trustee appointments at municipalities run by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. 

Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) began his message by criticizing the government. “The ruling power lost control and is experiencing inconsistent and unserious fluctuations.” 

He noted that one of the ousted mayors Ahmet Türk was mediating reconciliation between families with the Turkish Vice President last week, but was now being labeled a terrorist.

He continued, “In democracies, the continuity of voter’ will is fundamental. If an elected official is removed from office, another elected representative, that is, one of the council members, should take their place. The authority to elect belongs solely to the voters and is non-transferable.” 

He stated that he would convene an extraordinary session of the Turkish Municipalities Association Executive Board on Nov. 5.

Former CHP chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu reacted to the trustee appointments on his social media account.

“The wolf has donned sheep’s clothing; you think it has become our friend now,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, emphasizing nothing would change without the AKP government was ousted. 

“Justice cannot be achieved by pleading with a dictator. Turkey’s future will not brighten without standing up for democracy against the palace’s lawlessness!”

Nacho Sanchez Amor the Turkey Rapporteur of the European Parliament, made a statement on his social media account.

Another reaction came from Fatih Erbakan, leader of the far-right Islamist New Welfare Party (YRP) which was formerly a coalition partner of the ruling AKP.

Erbakan wrote, “The trustee appointments are nothing but a repeat of the scenario staged for years.” 

He continued, “Whatever the mistakes of those who nominated these individuals or appointed the trustees, it is the public that is punished, and the will of the people that is disregarded. Both sides should stop playing this meaningless game repeatedly.” 

He blamed the pro-Kurdish parties for nominating “individuals on trial for being members of a terrorist organization,” and the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) for “legitimizing” these candidacies by not objecting during the nomination period.

“Both sides in this film are racing to add fuel to the fire that erodes trust in civil politics,” he continued. 

Turkey’s socialist parties also voiced criticisms of the trustee appointments. The Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) said on their social media account, "The trustee regime is one of corruption, poverty, and injustice. The trustee appointments show that the AKP-MHP government is not sincere in seeking peace and a solution to the Kurdish issue. We stand with the Kurdish people and our friends in the DEM Party whose will has been undermined."

The Left (SOL) Party's social media account shared the following statement, "Once again, the will of the people is being seized by the trustees of a single ruler. The people of Batman, Mardin, and Halfeti are not alone. Let’s stand shoulder to shoulder for democracy and peace to end this regime."

The Labor Party (EMEP) said, "It is essential to establish a common line of struggle against the trustee coup for the building of a democratic country. Our people will not submit to this coup-plotting government, this alliance of oppression."

Chair of the Future (Gelecek) Party Ahmet Davutoğlu stated, "What are you trying to do, for God's sake? Are you confused or bickering among yourselves? You are destroying trust in the state, democracy, the judiciary, and politics all at once! Stop mocking the people's intelligence, sit down and decide among yourselves what you intend to do, and then come before the public and explain transparently!"

"The Future Party's stance has always been clear and consistent, a full and complete democracy without any form of trusteeship, overt or covert! A strict public order where no type of terrorism can take root" said the party leader. 

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy group chair Abdullah Güler was the first from the party to comment on the developments. He stated that the Interior Ministry made the evaluations to oust current mayors “for a temporary period,” and that the individuals in question could be acquitted or have their sentences finalized during the appeal and judicial processes. 

He added, “Municipal leadership is not a space of freedom where anyone can commit crimes. These practices will continue within the framework of law and legality.”