Deputy Mayor crisis grows in Üsküdar: Election to be held without council members in custody

The political and judicial activity following the court-ordered cancellation of the Deputy Mayor election at Üsküdar Municipality has moved to a new dimension. While an investigation is being conducted into some council members ahead of the new election to be held in the Municipal Council, the announcement of the election date immediately following the detention orders has sparked controversy.

In the first phase of the cancelled Deputy Mayor election, two CHP municipal council members, who were determined to have voted for the AKP candidate in the third round of voting, were forced to resign from their party.

Summoned to testify as part of the investigation

During this period of ongoing political tension, judicial authorities have now stepped in. As part of the ongoing investigation, four municipal council members were summoned to the prosecutor's office to provide testimony.

Following the testimony procedures, a four-day detention order was issued for two municipal council members. The detention orders have brought with them debates over how the political arithmetic in the Municipal Council, where the Deputy Mayor election will take place, will be affected.

Election date announced hours after detention order

Only a few hours after the detention orders for the council members were issued, the Istanbul Governor's Office announced the new election calendar.

According to the statement made by the Governor's Office, the Üsküdar Municipal Council will convene on Saturday, September 5, at 10:00 AM to elect a new Deputy Mayor.

Thus, the ballot box for the Deputy Mayor position will be set up again at a time when two council members in custody will be unable to cast their votes.

Reaction from the opposition and legal circles

The opposition front and some legal circles have reacted to the decision to proceed with the election in an environment where council members are in custody.

In the criticisms, it was stated that the reflection of the will of the members in custody at the ballot box could be effectively prevented, and that this could directly affect the election result. While it was noted that the process has brought about discussions of political interference, it was argued that the events should also be questioned in terms of judicial independence.

As the political crisis that began after the first election, which was cancelled by a court decision, deepens further with investigations and detention orders, it remains a matter of curiosity how the Deputy Mayor election to be held on September 5 will shape the new balances in the Üsküdar Municipal Council.