Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş calls for return to parliamentary system

Turkish capital Ankara's Mayor Mansur Yavaş has called for a return to a parliamentary system, citing concerns about governance and judicial independence. He criticized the swift probe into TÜSİAD’s president and warned that legal instability discouraged investment.

Sunday February 16 2025 12:43 pm

Duvar English

The mayor of Turkey's capital Ankara Mansur Yavaş from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Feb. 15 attended the 34th Ordinary General Assembly of the OSTİM Industrialists and Businesspeople Association (OSİAD).

Addressing industrialists and businesspeople, Yavaş criticized the current legal system and called for a return to a parliamentary system. He cited a recent survey indicating that 67 percent of respondents supported the shift. "One person's power and capacity are not enough for everything," he said. "Even a computer would crash if it had to handle all decisions alone."

Yavaş argued that a lack of transparency and accountability hampered governance, even within the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. He emphasized that developed nations had implemented systems ensuring government transparency, public participation, and accountability.

He referenced recent resignations in Europe, where officials stepped down for minor infractions, and contrasted this with governance issues in Turkey.

Yavaş criticized the investigation into TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan, stating that judicial independence was essential for public confidence. "No one should fear that politics will influence the judiciary," he said.

He expressed concern over the rapid launch of legal proceedings following TÜSİAD's statement, arguing that such actions discouraged open discourse and investment. "If no one speaks, how will we find the truth?" he asked.

Yavaş called for a return to the parliamentary system, stating that it would improve governance and judicial independence. "I believe OSTİM's business community will benefit from such a transition," he said. "When that happens, I am confident we will reach better days together."