Acting mayor appointed at Kepez Municipality!

Following the arrest of Kepez Mayor Mesut Kocagöz in connection with the accident at the Sarısu-Tünektepe Cable Car Facilities in the Konyaaltı district of Antalya, which resulted in 1 death and 7 injuries, the Kepez Municipal Council convened to elect an acting mayor.

The meeting, held in the council chamber under the chairmanship of Deputy Council Speaker Selçuk Koçnebioğulları, was attended by CHP, AKP, and MHP council members.

In his speech, Koçnebioğulları stated that Kocagöz, who was elected mayor on March 31, had resigned from all his duties in 2023 to file his candidacy.

Noting that Kocagöz was summoned by the prosecutor's office following the cable car accident, Koçnebioğulları said, "Our mayor has been in custody since that date. We held our first meeting on April 8 and determined the commissions. We were going to hold our second meeting to discuss a 100 million [lira] loan to be sent to the planning and budget commission and to lift the blocks on Kepez Municipality's accounts. However, unfortunately, we had to hold the second meeting with the agenda of electing an acting mayor upon the call of the Governor's Office."

AKP spokesperson Süleyman Acar stated that the judicial and administrative process regarding the incident is ongoing and that they trust the Turkish justice system completely.

MHP spokesperson Ali Baki Sarıca also expressed his hope that Kocagöz would return to his post as soon as possible.

Following the speeches, during the agenda discussion, the CHP group nominated council member Prof. Dr. Refik Emre Altekin for acting mayor. Other parties did not put forward any candidates.

AKP council members stated that a secret ballot must be held as required by law. Following this, a brief polemic occurred between the CHP and AKP groups regarding whether the secret ballot should be conducted in a voting booth.

In the secret ballot held after the objections of the AKP members, 45 council members cast their votes in the booth.

Altekin, who received 28 votes in the first round and 31 votes in the second round, was elected as the Acting Mayor of Kepez Municipality.

In his speech, Altekin said that they would spend this period by complying with laws and regulations, and by taking into account conscientious, moral, and ethical values until Kocagöz returns to his post.

Stating that they would work to fulfill the promises Kocagöz made to the citizens, Altekin said, "Have no doubt that we will show maximum effort and diligence together with our council members."

The council meeting was also attended by CHP Deputy Chairman in charge of Local Governments Gökan Zeybek, CHP Antalya deputies Cavit Arı and Aliye Coşar, CHP district mayors, and representatives of political parties.