04.04.2026 19:00
While the early election in Turkey is being discussed, polling stations are being set up in Mustafapaşa, a district of Ürgüp in Nevşehir, on June 7. The court annulled the decision to downgrade Mustafapaşa, which was chosen as the most beautiful tourism village in the world by the World Tourism Organization in 2021, from municipality status to village status. With this decision, the town regained its right to become a municipality, and the election process in the region has begun.
The process of converting Mustafapaşa, a town in the Ürgüp district of Nevşehir, from a municipality back to a village has been annulled by a court decision. Thus, Mustafapaşa has regained its right to be a municipality, and the election process in the region has officially begun.
COURT'S "ILLEGAL" DECISION
In the case heard in Ankara, the court found the Interior Ministry's action to downgrade Mustafapaşa's status to be illegal. The decision noted that the town's population exceeds 2,000 according to some official records, and therefore, the removal of its municipal status was deemed invalid.
POLLING STATION TO BE SET UP ON JUNE 7
Following the decision, the eyes of the Mustafapaşa residents turned to the election calendar. The town's people will go to the polls on June 7 to elect a new mayor. It is reported that multiple candidates are already preparing to compete in the region.
TOURISM POTENTIAL INFLUENCED THE DECISION
Mustafapaşa, which was selected as "the most beautiful tourism village in the world" by the World Tourism Organization in 2021, also had its strong tourism potential highlighted as one of the notable factors in the process.
Tourism professional Mustafa Ak stated in a statement after the decision that they have received the results of their long struggle, emphasizing that the town has achieved the status it deserves.
“CANNOT BE MANAGED AS A VILLAGE”
One of the town's residents, Erdoğan Aytaş, argued that the previous population census was incomplete, stating that there is a university and thousands of students in the region, as well as many hotels operating. Aytaş emphasized that Mustafapaşa is too large and active to be managed as a village.
A NEW ERA BEGINS
With the court's decision, a new era begins in Mustafapaşa, and the town's people are experiencing the excitement of being governed as a municipality once again. The most important step in the process will be the elections to be held in June.