Another CHP municipality passes to the AKP

A significant change has taken place in the municipal administration of the Akçakoca district in Düzce. Following the arrest of Mayor Fikret Albayrak over allegations of "extortion" and his temporary suspension from duty by the Ministry of Interior, the Akçakoca Municipal Council convened in an extraordinary session today.

During the session, which began at 3:00 PM, a secret ballot was held to determine the municipality's new acting mayor.

At the end of the vote, AKP Council Member Alev Ünal received the most votes from the delegates and became the new acting mayor of Akçakoca Municipality. Thus, the acting mayor's seat has passed from the CHP to the AKP.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Akçakoca Mayor Fikret Albayrak was detained on May 23 as part of an extortion investigation launched by the Düzce Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and was sent to prison following the start of the judicial process. After the arrest, the Ministry of Interior, using its constitutional authority, temporarily suspended Albayrak from his duties.

The allegations contained in the investigation file caused a great stir in the local public opinion. The complainant, E.Ö., alleged that while continuing construction with a permit obtained in 2023, Mayor Albayrak demanded 2.5 million lira from him through his father, H.Ö., in order to complete the occupancy permit procedures. E.Ö. applied to the prosecutor's office, stating that he gave a check in exchange for this amount and subsequently only received a partial occupancy permit for his construction.

In addition to these allegations, another businessperson, H.P., claimed that municipal teams stopped his construction work and that 1 million lira was demanded through an employee, F.Ç. H.P. filed a complaint, alleging that he was not allowed to continue his construction because he did not pay the demanded money.