Critical appointments at Tuzla Municipality: Mayor rumored to be joining AKP appoints AKP figures to office

While rumors that Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl will resign from the CHP to join the AKP remain a topic of discussion, new appointments have been made to the municipality's management staff.

While Bingöl has not made a public statement regarding the allegations, the appointments at the directorate and deputy mayoral levels in the municipality have drawn attention.

With the latest regulation, İlhan Çöpoğlu has been appointed as the Director of Press, Publication and Public Relations. It was stated that Çöpoğlu had previously been a parliamentary candidate nominee for the AKP but was not elected.

The changes in the municipality were not limited to this. Harun Oğuzhan, who served in roles such as chief advisor, Private Secretary, Press Director, and Chairman of the Board of TUZYAP for approximately 15 years during the term of former AKP Tuzla Mayor Şadi Yazıcı, has been appointed as Deputy Mayor.

Harun Oğuzhan

It was reported that the Housing and Licensing Department has been placed directly under Oğuzhan, and that Eray Bektaş, who is Bingöl's partner from his law firm and was appointed as Private Secretary after the election, has also been assigned as the Director of Foreign Relations, reporting to Oğuzhan.

Eray Bektaş

Another change in the management staff occurred in the Private Secretary's Office. It was stated that the nephew of former AKP Tuzla Mayor and former Minister İdris Güllüce has been appointed to this position.

Furthermore, it was reported that following this appointment, a deputy mayor from the AKP-run Başiskele Municipality was also transferred to the Tuzla Municipality staff. This activity in the municipal administration comes at a time when debates regarding Bingöl's political future are ongoing.