NEW Party Diyarbakır Deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu, in his statement in front of Batman Municipality, which is governed by trustees, said that if we are talking about a new process and peace in Turkey, one of the most basic indicators of this is respecting the will of the people.
Tanrıkulu called for "Stop the trustee practice. Respect the will of the people of Batman. Return the elected mayors to their duties."
Making a statement in front of Batman Municipality, Tanrıkulu stated that the municipality has not been governed by elected mayors for many years and reminded the dismissal and trustee processes that have taken place since 2009.
Stating that Nejdet Atalay was elected Mayor of Batman in 2009, he was detained, arrested and suspended from office a short time later, Tanrıkulu said that after the 2014 elections, co-chairs Sabri Özdemir and Gülistan Akel took office, but Özdemir was suspended from office shortly after.
Tanrıkulu stated that the regulations enacted during the State of Emergency following the July 15 coup attempt paved the way for the appointment of trustees to municipalities, and stated that as of September 11, 2016, Batman Municipality has been governed by appointed governors and deputy governors.
“THE WILL OF THE BATMAN PEOPLE IS BEING IGNORED”
Stating that Mehmet Demir was elected mayor in the 2019 elections, but was soon removed from office and reappointed as a trustee, Tanrıkulu said that the same situation occurred after Gülistan Sönük was elected in the March 31, 2024 elections.
Reminding that Sönük was dismissed from office on November 4, 2024 and Batman Governor Ekrem Canalp was appointed as trustee, Tanrıkulu said that Batman Municipality has had "the same picture for 10 years". Tanrıkulu said, "There is no elected mayor. The will of the people of Batman is ignored."
“WHAT DOES THE GUN HAVE TO DO WITH BATMAN MUNICIPALITY?”
Tanrıkulu continued his statement by pointing out that a new process is being carried out in Turkey and reminded the legal framework created to end armed activities and lay down weapons.
Tanrıkulu stated that Law No. 7595, published on August 18, 2026, includes regulations that will be implemented after it is determined by the security institutions that the organization has ended its actual existence and the weapons have been handed over and this determination is confirmed by the decision of the National Security Council, and then asked the following question:
“IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A NEW ERA, RESPECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”
Arguing that the will of the people should be respected in a period where it is aimed to end armed activities and pave the way for democratic politics, Tanrıkulu said, "If we are talking about a new era, a new process, peace in Türkiye today; if the aim is to end armed activities and pave the way for democratic politics, then one of the first things to do is to respect the will of the people."
Tanrıkulu said, "Why are the mayors elected by the people of Batman not on duty? What are you waiting for?" he asked.
“DEMOCRACY IS THE VALIDITY OF THE PEOPLE'S VOTE EVEN AFTER THEY LEAVE THE BALLOT BOX.”
At the end of his statement, Tanrıkulu made a direct appeal to the government and asked for the trustee practice to be ended and the elected mayors to be reinstated.
Tanrıkulu continued his call with the following words:
"Stop the trustee practice. Respect the will of the people of Batman. Return the elected mayors to their duties."
