25.03.2025 16:30
Following the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu in the corruption investigation, it has become a matter of curiosity who will be the deputy chairman of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). While the names of three district mayors are being discussed in the corridors, it has been revealed that, according to Article 45 of the Municipal Law, district mayors cannot be elected as deputy chairman.
The Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested and sent to Silivri Prison as part of the corruption investigation launched against the IMM.
EYES ON TOMORROW'S MEETING
While it remains a matter of curiosity who will be the acting president of the IMM in place of İmamoğlu, all eyes are on the meeting that will be held tomorrow at 1:00 PM to elect the vice president of the municipal council.
There are 314 members in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council, with 185 from the CHP, 120 from the AK Party, 6 from the MHP, and 2 from the BBP. The name to be nominated by the Republican People's Party for the vice presidency has not yet been determined.
3 NAMES EMERGED IN THE BACKROOMS
In the CHP backrooms, the names of Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, and Eyüpsultan Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen are circulating, while a clause in the Municipal Law has virtually disrupted the CHP's plans.
CLAUSE IN THE MUNICIPAL LAW CHANGED THE CALCULATIONS
Lawyer Rezan Epözdemir made an important statement regarding the issue, stating that these individuals cannot serve as vice president. In a post on X, Epözdemir said, "Many of our press colleagues are asking, let me answer from here. According to Article 45 of the Municipal Law, if a metropolitan municipality mayor's conviction that prevents them from being elected becomes final, they are replaced by a president, and in cases of suspension from duty or arrest, a vice president is elected."
"LEGALLY IMPOSSIBLE"
In light of Mr. İmamoğlu's suspension from duty, according to the second paragraph of Article 17 of the Metropolitan Municipality Law, district mayors cannot be elected as vice president. In tomorrow's vote, the IMM vice president can be selected from council members who are not district mayors; it is legally impossible for the mentioned district mayors to be elected as IMM vice president," he stated.