18.10.2026 17:00
CHP has decided to nominate its own candidate in the deputy mayoral election to be held at Üsküdar Municipality on Tuesday, October 20. CHP Spokesperson Müslim Sarı announced that the New Party will also participate in the election with a separate candidate. In the 41-member council, the AK Party has 23 members, while CHP and the New Party have 9 members each. The election is being held because AK Party Deputy Mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin lost his life in a traffic accident.
Before the election to be held for deputy mayor at Üsküdar Municipality, CHP announced its decision. The fact that CHP and the New Party will compete with separate candidates means that opposition votes will be split against the AK Party, which holds the majority in the seat distribution.
CHP WILL COMPETE WITH ITS OWN CANDIDATE
CHP Spokesperson Müslim Sarı announced that his party would field its own candidate in the Üsküdar Municipality Deputy Mayoral election. Sarı stated that the NEW Party would also participate in the election with a separate candidate. It has not yet been announced who CHP's candidate will be.
AK PARTY HAS MAJORITY IN COUNCIL
According to Sarı, the Üsküdar Municipal Council has 23 AK Party members, 9 CHP members, and 9 New Party members.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: COUNCIL TO MEET ON OCTOBER 20
The Istanbul Governor's Office deemed it appropriate for the Üsküdar Municipal Council to convene on Tuesday, October 20, at 10:00 a.m. to elect the new deputy mayor.
The statement from the Governor's Office included the following remarks:
“Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the crimes of ‘Establishing an Organization for the Purpose of Committing a Crime, Bribery, and Extortion,’ Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş was arrested by the decision of the Istanbul Anatolian 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace dated 31.07.2026 and numbered 2026/994 inquiry; in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of Law No. 5393 on Municipalities, she was suspended from duty by the Approval of the Ministry of the Interior dated 01.08.2026.
At the Municipal Council meeting held on 05.08.2026, Council Decision No. 76 concerning the election of Sibel Tan Çetinkaya as Deputy Mayor was subject to a stay of execution by the decision of the Istanbul 2nd Administrative Court dated 24.08.2026 and numbered 2026/1703; the objection to this decision was rejected by the decision of the Sixth Administrative Litigation Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court dated 02.09.2026 and numbered 2026/1533. As a result of the renewed election in line with the judicial decisions, Dündar Ziya Gültekin was elected Deputy Mayor on 08.09.2026.
Following the death of Üsküdar Deputy Mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin after a traffic accident he had on 15.10.2026, it has been deemed appropriate by our Governor's Office for the Üsküdar Municipal Council to convene on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of electing a new Deputy Mayor.”
THIRD ELECTION IN ÜSKÜDAR IN 3 MONTHS
CHP Mayor Sinem Dedetaş was arrested on July 31 on charges of “establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime,” “bribery,” and “extortion,” and was suspended from duty on August 1. In the first election on August 5, CHP’s Sibel Tan Çetinkaya was elected deputy mayor, but the execution of the council decision was stayed by a court decision. In the renewed election on September 8, AK Party’s Dündar Ziya Gültekin was elected deputy mayor.
GÜLTEKİN DIED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Deputy Mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin (43) had an accident on October 15 at the Sarıçökek location in the Kaynaşlı district of Düzce on the Anatolian Highway while traveling to Ankara to attend the election of the Union of Turkish Municipalities. The car carrying Gültekin collided with another car traveling in the same direction. Gültekin, who was taken to a private hospital, could not be saved despite approximately 1.5 hours of intervention. AK Party Düzce Provincial Chairman Hasan Şengüloğlu stated that there was no visible sign of impact on Gültekin's body and said it was suspected that he may have suffered a heart attack due to shock.