06.02.2026 19:21
During the February Municipal Council Meeting planned to be held in Kula district of Manisa, the ruling coalition and independent municipal council members reacted by leaving the meeting room after Kula Mayor Hikmet Dönmez arrived approximately 10 minutes late. Due to the delay and the subsequent reactions, the meeting could not be held.
The February Municipal Council Meeting planned to be held in the Kula district of Manisa could not be conducted due to the delays experienced and the subsequent reactions.
CHP Manisa Provincial Chairman İlksen Özalper, along with CHP Manisa deputies Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu, Bekir Başevirgen, and Aydın CHP Deputy Evrim Karakoz, also attended the council meeting.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT ARRIVED LATE, MEMBERS LEFT THE HALL
After Kula Mayor Hikmet Dönmez arrived at the council hall approximately 10 minutes late, the opposition council members left the hall, and Mayor Hikmet Dönmez also exited, stating that the council should be held together. Dönmez expressed that the situation was unethical, noting that there were guests present at the meeting.
"IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF ME"
CHP Manisa Provincial Chairman İlksen Özalper stated that the delay was due to them, saying, "Our group meeting took a bit longer, it happened because of me. I talk a bit too much, I apologize. I'm sorry." The deputies also called for the council meeting to be held.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DID NOT RETURN
However, the opposition council members emphasized that their decision was clear, stating that they had been kept waiting for about 10 minutes and that no one had the right to keep anyone waiting, and they declared that they would not attend the meeting. MHP Council Member Adnan Sarı, in a statement, said, "We waited until 15:10 with the independent council members. We are leaving the council due to the failure to attend the meeting."
STATEMENT FROM THE MAYOR
Kula Mayor Hikmet Dönmez, in a statement regarding the issue, noted that there were three deputies in the district and that they had held a group meeting together. Dönmez stated that the meeting was supposed to start at 15:00, but the group meeting ended at 15:08, and a few minutes of delay occurred due to the presence of guests and the time taken to come down from the upper floor. Dönmez mentioned that he personally apologized to the council members and insisted on holding the council, but the opposition members decided to not attend the meeting by making a group decision. Mayor Dönmez expressed that he did not find this attitude correct and criticized the opposition members.
MEETING COULD NOT BE HELD
As a result of the developments, the February Municipal Council Meeting could not be held due to the lack of a simple majority. It was learned that the meeting has been postponed to February 9, 2026, at 18:00.