Naming crisis in Denizli: Governor does not approve council decision

In the Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, a naming dispute that has occupied the city's agenda for a long time is being taken to the judiciary. Upon the proposal of Mayor Bülent Nuri Çavuşoğlu, the name of the Nihat Zeybekci Congress and Culture Center was changed to the “Pamukkale Congress and Culture Center” at the Metropolitan Municipality Council meeting held in April. However, although the decision passed the council by a majority vote, it was not approved by the Denizli Governor's Office.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DID NOT APPROVE THE DECISION

Making statements at the May municipal council session, Mayor Bülent Nuri Çavuşoğlu said, “The decision taken by our council is clear. Giving the name Pamukkale to the congress center was a choice that integrates with the historical and cultural identity of this city. However, this decision was not approved by the Governor's Office. Unfortunately, this situation casts a shadow over the functioning of local democracy.”

DECISION TAKEN TO THE JUDICIARY

Mayor Çavuşoğlu announced that they would initiate the legal process following this rejection from the Governor's Office. “We will apply to the administrative court. We stand behind the decision our council has made. We have taken a step on behalf of this city that meets the expectations of the public. We do not recognize any will above the democratic will,” he said.

Çavuşoğlu stated the following:

-The authority governing this country has said for years that we are against tutelage. Just as the President, who has been governing our country for nearly 20 years, says 'There should be no tutelage, no will can be placed above the will of the elected,' unfortunately, this decision we made here as elected officials was returned by the appointed officials and was not accepted.

-In the previous council, a will that received over 300 thousand votes in Denizli, which also deserved the favor of one in every two citizens, and which also has a council member count of over 70 percent, has shown the will to change the name of a place that has nothing to do with the culture of this city, which is still engaging in politics, and which still maintains the will to engage in politics.

-There is a decision by the council of the mayor of the previous term, whose name we changed, who changed dozens of names during his time.

-For example, our 55 neighborhoods were reduced to 31. The names of 25 of our neighborhoods were removed. The Governor's Office says in its justification; it says the city's institutional memory is being erased, it says names should live on in the city, it says the connection with the past should not be broken.

-This has been the period when the connection was broken the most, 25 of our neighborhood names were changed. No one said that such a thing could not happen. Everyone said that the representatives elected by the votes of this city, elected by the will of the people, made such a decision, and said 'so be it.' We are against all forms of tutelage, and let those who want to impose their will over the elected will of this council know that we are against them as well. Since democracy is essential, since the voter's will is essential, we will continue to defend the essential will. I want everyone to know this.

-We are making the necessary initiatives regarding the resolution of this issue. From this hour on, the name of that facility in my person is the Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Congress and Culture Center, friends.