18.08.2026 20:31
In the Menderes district of Izmir, Asuman Sen, the candidate of the People's Alliance, was elected to replace Mayor Ilkay Cicek, who was arrested and suspended from duty as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. Sen, who received 15 votes in the vote held at the Menderes Municipal Council and became the acting Mayor, took over the duty in a ceremony held. Immediately after the handover ceremony, a photograph of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was hung in the mayor's office.
In the Menderes district of Izmir, Asuman Şen, the candidate of the People's Alliance, was elected in place of Mayor İlkay Çiçek, who was arrested as part of an ongoing judicial investigation and suspended from duty by the Ministry of Interior. Şen, who received 15 votes in the extraordinary election held in the Municipal Council and became the Acting Mayor of Menderes, officially assumed her duties with a handover ceremony.
HANDOVER CEREMONY HELD: ERDOĞAN'S PORTRAIT HUNG IN THE OFFICE
At the ceremony held in the mayoral office of Menderes Municipality, Council President Şirzat Peker handed over his duties to Asuman Şen. AK Party Izmir Provincial Chairman Bilal Saygılı, MHP Izmir Provincial Chairman Veysel Şahin, party members, and citizens attended the ceremony.
Immediately after the handover ceremony, a photograph of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was hung in the office. Speaking while taking over the duties, Acting Mayor Asuman Şen said, "We have been through a process. God has destined it this way. Hopefully, it will bring goodness. We will live together and work together."
EMPHASIS ON "SERVICE"
Speaking at the ceremony, AK Party Izmir Provincial Chairman Bilal Saygılı drew attention to the politics of works and services, saying, "We are starting a new duty. Since we approach it with the politics of works and services set forth by our President, those who have laid stone upon stone are all the crown of our heads. We have come to solve the problems of tradesmen, our villager brothers, and Menderes citizens who have no infrastructure in their streets and many other problems. Our President Asuman is a mayor with the strength and quality to solve these problems in the best way and make Menderes smile. I wish her success."
MHP Izmir Provincial Chairman Veysel Şahin also said, "For a long time, the resources of the municipality, the state, and the nation have been misused in Izmir. At least, we believe they have been misused. We have been showing the correct examples of this in Aliağa and Menemen for a long time. I hope it will also be shown in Menderes through Ms. Asuman. I hope we enter a period where state and municipal resources are used properly, and I wish her success from now on."