09.04.2026 11:41
The CHP did not nominate a candidate for the vice-presidency election to be held in place of Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, who was arrested and suspended from duty. While the police took extensive security measures for the election, which is expected to be tense, no one other than the council members was allowed inside. A group of 200 CHP members, wanting to follow the council meeting, broke through the barriers and entered the municipal building by breaking windows. A scuffle occurred. The police intervened with those who entered.
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey was detained on March 31 as part of an investigation into "irregularities" and "bribery," was arrested by the court on April 4, and subsequently suspended from duty. The vice president of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality will be determined in the election to be held today.
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ARITHMETIC DRAWS ATTENTION
In the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Council, there are 50 members from the AK Party, 8 from the MHP, and 1 from the BBP. The CHP has 41 members, while the IYI Party has 3, the Turkey Alliance Party has 1, the New Welfare Party has 1, and there is also 1 independent member represented in the council.
CHP WILL NOT NOMINATE CANDIDATES
In the election expected to start at 11:00, the AK Party nominated Şahin Biba, a member of the Nilüfer Municipal Council. The CHP decided not to nominate a candidate in the election.
SCUFFLE BEFORE THE ELECTION
However, incidents occurred at the municipal building before the election scheduled for 11:00. While the police took extensive security measures, no one other than council members was allowed inside. A group of 200 CHP members, wanting to follow the council meeting, broke through the barriers and entered the municipal building by breaking the windows. A scuffle ensued. The police intervened with those who entered.
WATER CANNONS ARRIVED
Extraordinary security measures were taken around the municipal building before the vice presidency election to be held at 11:00. The riot police set up barriers, and water cannons were on standby.
THEY BROKE THE GLASS AND ENTERED
The entrance to the back parking lot of the municipality was also surrounded by barriers. However, a group of about 200 CHP members, claiming they wanted to follow the council, broke the glass of the door leading to the upper floor from inside the parking lot and entered. The riot police intervened with the group. CHP Provincial Chairman Nihat Yeşiltaş and Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Council Member and Agricultural AŞ Board Chairman Mehmet Aydın Saldız reacted to the police. Chairman Yeşiltaş reminded that Chairman Bozbey was elected, stating, "The chairman elected by the election has been removed from office, and the election is being held with the police. They do not allow us inside. The whole world is watching this place, but our friends are not allowed to enter."
BOZBEY: THE PEOPLE OF BURSA WILL NOT FORGET
Mustafa Bozbey, who was suspended from duty, emphasized in a statement he made on social media before the election that the people of Bursa would not forget what happened.
Bozbey used the following expressions in his statement:
- Dear people of Bursa, my companions on this journey, my beautiful fellow citizens; Although I may not be physically with you today, I am with you in spirit, heart, and all my faith! The people of Bursa reflected their pure will in the ballot box on March 31, 2024; one in every two people gave their vote to us, bringing us to duty with a difference of 170,000 votes over our closest rival. Bursa strongly declared two years ago that it wanted change. Those who cannot accept the decision and change given by our people have done injustice to Bursa and the will of the people of Bursa, pursuing their own accounts. Our Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and the most important city of our Republic's leap, has been subjected to treatment contrary to its history and culture in the 700th year of the conquest. I believe that the people of Bursa will never forget what has been done.
- Today, based on the majority in the municipal council, you know that they will try to put a mortgage on your will. However, the requirement of justice and democracy is the appointment of one of our council members from the Republican People's Party as vice president. Ignoring the voice that comes from the ballot box is an injustice not only to me but to all of Bursa. But let them not forget this: Our strength comes not from the seats but from the legitimate votes of the people. Mustafa Bozbey. Elected Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.