02.11.2026 10:51
The DEM Party announced that members who entered the municipal council within the framework of the "City Consensus" in the March 31 elections will return under the party umbrella; while the decision changes the balances in the Istanbul and Mersin municipal councils, it has raised the possibility of the administration changing hands in a possible Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayoral election.
DEM Party announced that members close to it who were elected to municipal councils from CHP lists or through a joint will within the scope of the "Urban Consensus" strategy in the March 31 local elections will henceforth continue their politics under the roof of the DEM Party.
This decision directly affects the distribution of seats in municipal councils, particularly in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and Mersin, and has raised the possibility that the municipality could change hands in a possible IMM Deputy Mayoral election.
"COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SHOWN THE WILL TO JOIN OUR PARTY"
In the statement made by the DEM Party Central Executive Board (MYK), it was stated that a situation assessment was made following the developments and resignations in local administrations over the last two and a half years. The statement included the following expressions:
"We participated in the local elections held on March 31, 2024, in which the opposition parties achieved a historic success, with the Urban Consensus strategy in line with the common will of our peoples living in metropolises, urban components, and democratic forces. In the two-and-a-half-year period that has passed, comprehensive operations were carried out against local administrations. Trustees were appointed to many municipalities, mayors were taken into custody and arrested, and municipalities changed hands as a result of these interventions. In addition, there were party switches and resignations. We evaluated all these developments together with our municipal council members elected within the scope of the Urban Consensus. At the meeting we held, our council members demonstrated their will to join our party. This request was evaluated and deemed appropriate by our Central Executive Board."
"TOWARD THE PEOPLE OF ISTANBUL AND MERSIN..."
In the continuation of the statement, in which it was stated that respect is shown for the will expressed at the ballot box through the Urban Consensus, it was emphasized that the council members would continue their duties in the coming period under the roof of the DEM Party, and it was said:
"The Urban Consensus is a valuable experience in which different social and political segments come together around the goals of local democracy, participation, and joint city governance. Our people have demonstrated a clear will at the ballot box in favor of cities being governed together, with a democratic and participatory understanding. The respect we feel for this will be preserved in the step we are taking today as well. The common law we have established within the framework of the Urban Consensus and the will of our people that became concrete at the ballot box will continue to be binding for us. We will continue our work in municipal councils based on the needs of the cities, local democracy, and a transparent understanding of governance. Our council members will fulfill their duties under our party's roof with an understanding that produces solutions to the common problems of cities, as they have since the day they were elected and will continue to do so. Taking into account the relations and mutual responsibilities established on the basis of the Urban Consensus, we will continue to fulfill our responsibility toward the peoples of Istanbul and Mersin."