Acting mayoralty in Menderes passes to AKP: Asuman Şen's first move revealed

Following the arrest of Mayor İlkay Çiçek in the Menderes district of İzmir, People's Alliance candidate Asuman Şen, who won the acting mayoral election, has taken over the position with a handover ceremony.

At the ceremony held in the Menderes Municipality mayoral office, Şirzat Peker, who had been performing the mayoral duties in his capacity as council president, handed over the seat to Şen. The ceremony was attended by AKP İzmir Provincial Chair Bilal Saygılı, MHP İzmir Provincial Chair Veysel Şahin, party members, and citizens.

In her speech at the ceremony, the newly appointed Acting Mayor of Menderes Municipality, Asuman Şen, stated, “We have gone through a process. God has willed it this way. I hope it brings good things. We will live and work together.”

Prior to the acting mayoral election, the YENİ Party, CHP, and AKP had all fielded candidates; the election resulted in a victory for the AKP candidate, Şen. Following the election, the visit of CHP Municipal Council Member Harun Bila to the AKP Menderes District Headquarters to congratulate Şen, along with the photo he took with AKP İzmir Provincial Chair Bilal Saygılı, drew public attention.

Speaking at the ceremony, AKP İzmir Provincial Chair Bilal Saygılı stated that they would focus on Menderes' infrastructure and service issues, saying, “Because we look at things through the lens of the politics of works and services put forward by our President, everyone who has contributed to the development of this place is held in high regard.”

MHP İzmir Provincial Chair Veysel Şahin, meanwhile, said they expect municipal and public resources to be used correctly. Pointing to the examples of Aliağa and Menemen, Şahin expressed his hope for a similar management approach in Menderes.

Following the handover ceremony, a photograph of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was hung in the mayoral office.