Erdoğan had signaled it: Local government powers are being narrowed, new boards are coming! Here is the new regulation the AKP is working on...

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at his party's group meeting, signaled a radical regulation regarding local governments. Erdoğan stated, "It has become inevitable to discuss, debate, and bring the issue of local governments and municipalities into a new order in all its dimensions. There is a need for a new status for municipal administration."

POWERS ARE BEING NARROWED, NEW BOARDS ARE COMING

According to the report by Ceren Bayar from T24, this move by Erdoğan is a harbinger of a legislative change that the AKP has been preparing for a long time. Despite the framework not yet being finalized, the restriction of municipalities' powers, particularly in the areas of zoning, budget, and administration, is on the agenda. Accordingly, it is planned to narrow the current breadth of municipal powers and open them up to more centralized oversight.

ADJUSTMENT TO THE UNLIMITED POWER OF MAYORS

According to party officials, mayors have "almost unlimited power." It is believed that this situation needs to be balanced. In this direction, an amendment to Article 38 of the Municipal Law has come to the agenda. It is planned to redefine the duties and powers of mayors.

NEW OVERSIGHT MECHANISM FOR THE BUDGET

The creation of a new oversight structure for the expenditure items of municipalities is also included in the draft. This structure, which is planned to be established, will monitor and evaluate the entire income-expenditure balance of the municipality. Whether expenditures are made according to priority order will also be under the follow-up of this oversight mechanism.

NEW GOVERNORATE-CENTERED STRUCTURE

Due to service disruptions, especially in the remote districts of metropolitan cities, the creation of a new coordination model is on the agenda. In this context, it is planned to connect municipal services to a centralized structure through the provincial special administration or governorates. A new structure that could be called a "provincial development board" is being considered.

INCOME JUSTICE AND SEASONAL POPULATION IMPACT

Another topic is the income structure of municipalities. Especially in summer resort areas, seasonal population growth increases the service burden while the budget remains fixed. AKP officials are of the opinion that periodic population changes should be reflected in the budget to eliminate this injustice.

DEBATE ON LIMITING THE RIGHT TO STRIKE

The right to strike for municipal employees is also included in the regulation. There is talk of introducing a strike ban for critical services such as garbage collection and drinking water, or producing alternative solutions to ensure that services are not disrupted in such situations.

INTERVENTION IN MUNICIPALITIES IN URBAN TRANSFORMATION

The issue of urban transformation brings the ongoing power struggle between the central government and municipalities to the agenda. The AKP is evaluating the consolidation of powers in this area within central institutions such as the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. In addition, options such as imposing sanctions on municipalities that do not take steps toward transformation, or even stripping them of their powers, are on the table.