Union of Municipalities of Turkey to visit Syria under İmamoğlu leadership

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu of the main opposition CHP has announced that a delegation from the Union of Municipalities of Turkey would visit Syria to assess the needs of Damascus. He also accused the government of targeting opposition-run municipalities through asset seizures.

Duvar English

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on Dec. 27 spoke after the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) Executive Committee meeting, addressing seizures of municipal assets due to unpaid Social Security (SGK) debts.

İmamoğlu claimed opposition-run municipalities have been targeted by the government since the local elections, citing political and economic measures taken against them over the past eight months.

Referring to actions like appointing trustees and seizing municipal properties, İmamoğlu described them as “a series of seriously unjust practices.” He criticized such measures for contradicting the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

İmamoğlu also announced that a TBB delegation would visit Syria to assess the needs of cities like Damascus and to rebuild sustainable ties between municipalities in the two countries. The visit aims to coordinate support from Turkish municipalities to Syrian cities.

İmamoğlu was elected as the president of the TBB in June 2024, becoming the first head of the union from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) since its establishment in 2005. 

Turkish government forces Istanbul Municipality out of managing megacity's largest forestTurkish government forces Istanbul Municipality out of managing megacity's largest forestDomestic
Turkish construction shares surge amid Syria rebuilding hopesTurkish construction shares surge amid Syria rebuilding hopesEconomy
Ousted CHP mayor calls imprisonment 'baseless,' awaits trialOusted CHP mayor calls imprisonment 'baseless,' awaits trialPolitics
Topics Ekrem İmamoğlu CHP TBB Syria Trustee mayors