Election results in at the Istanbul Chamber of Physicians: Democratic Participation group determines new management, tensions rise

The election for the Board of Directors, which will determine the new term at the Istanbul Chamber of Physicians (İTO), was held today across 106 ballot boxes. The voting took place at the Zeytinburnu 100. Yıl Technical and Anatolian High School between 09:00 and 17:00. Prominent figures from the healthcare community, including Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu and DİSK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu, were also present at the venue on election day.

While the Change Group and the Turkish Physicians Union submitted their candidate lists on the same night, the significant similarity between the names on the lists caused dissatisfaction among some chamber members.

The Democratic Participation Group entered the election with Dr. Talat Kırış as its presidential candidate, while the Change Group nominated Dr. Nedim Uzun and the Turkish Physicians Union nominated Salih Aydın as their presidential candidates.

Throughout the election process, a banner from the Change Group reading "Participating physicians want change" drew attention, raising some questions.

ELECTION ATMOSPHERE AND TENSIONS

As the voting process continued, tensions were observed in the environment as the Democratic Participation Group took the lead. A dispute grew and a scuffle broke out between the two groups after the Change Group began chanting "takbir" on one side, while the Democratic Participation Group chanted slogans of "Jump, jump, if you don't jump, you're a Tayyipciler" (supporter of Tayyip) on the other. Police teams intervened to separate the parties and ensure security.

With the announcement of the voting results, a margin of approximately 1,000 votes emerged, and the Democratic Participation Group emerged victorious from the election with nearly 60 percent of the vote. Dr. Talat Kırış became the new President of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Chamber of Physicians.

While activity was observed in the hall following the election, the new management will begin its duties in the coming days.