İlkay Çiçek was arrested: Date set for acting mayor election in Menderes

The İzmir Governor's Office has announced that an election for an acting mayor will be held to replace Menderes Mayor İlkay Çiçek, who was suspended from his duties by the Ministry of Interior following his arrest.

According to the Governor's Office statement, the Menderes Municipal Council will convene in an extraordinary session on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 10:30 AM, in accordance with Article 45 of the Municipal Law No. 5393. The meeting will be held in the Council Hall of the Menderes Municipality Service Building.

The statement noted that Çiçek was suspended from duty with the approval of the Ministry of Interior dated August 8, 2026, pursuant to the 4th paragraph of Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law.

The investigation conducted by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the Menderes Municipality includes charges of bribery, extortion, forgery of official documents, abuse of office, and causing zoning pollution.

Within the scope of the investigation, 16 suspects, including Mayor İlkay Çiçek, were detained on August 4. Of the suspects referred to the courthouse, 10 people, including Çiçek, were arrested on August 7, while the other suspects were released under judicial control conditions.