DEM Party's Kızıltepe Mayor İpek reverses resignation decision

The mayor of the Kızıltepe district in Mardin, Zeyni İpek, stated that he has not made his decision to resign from the DEM Party official and announced that he will delegate his duties as the Mayor of Kızıltepe to a person to be determined within the municipal council during the disciplinary investigation process initiated by the party.

In his written statement, İpek recalled that he was elected Mayor of Kızıltepe in the Local Administration General Elections on March 31, 2024, upon his party's nomination, and alleged that he had faced certain attacks and smear campaigns against him both during the party's primary process and his term as mayor.

In his statement, Zeyni İpek said, "I would like to state that I received these attacks, which were carried out through me but targeted our party and our party's local representation, with great shock and sadness, and that I will take full responsibility and stand in a position that will protect my party, my family, and myself. In addition to the mistakes that fall to me, I want it to be known that while I will pursue my legal struggle against all these processes that have ignored my personal rights and worn out my family since the first day, I will also settle accounts within the party's legal framework with those who plotted this conspiracy against me."

İpek stated that he had announced his resignation from his party on August 8 but has since reversed that decision, noting the following:

"I am aware that the 'resignation announcement' I made in the heavy emotional environment created by the influence of certain circles trying to turn the situation I fell into into a wave of attacks against my party, myself, and my family was disrespectful to the disciplinary process initiated by the party, and therefore, as a result of my self-reflection, I did not make this decision official. Due to all these events, in order to prevent myself, my party, and the representation I have taken responsibility for from becoming a subject of further debate, and to ensure that the disciplinary investigation launched against me is conducted properly, I am delegating my duties as the Mayor of Kızıltepe to a colleague to be determined within the council for the duration of this period. I would like to state, as a requirement of my loyalty to my party and the people who trusted me, that I will share all kinds of information with our party during the disciplinary process and that I will accept any decision to be taken in advance. I apologize once again to all our people and our party for being on the agenda with such a matter."

In a statement made by the DEM Party Headquarters on August 2, it was reported that a disciplinary investigation had been launched against Zeyni İpek, and the following statements were included: "Based on the complaints and documents reaching our Democratic Local Governments Board regarding Zeyni İpek, it has been determined that he has engaged in behaviors contrary to our party's program, principles, and moral values. For this reason, a disciplinary investigation has been launched against him. The results of the disciplinary investigation, which will be concluded in a short time, will be shared with the public separately."

İpek, in a written statement he made on August 8, had announced that he had resigned from the DEM Party and had decided to continue his duties as mayor as an independent mayor as of that day.