İmamoğlu and Karalar had been arrested: Mansur Yavaş reportedly rejected the presidency offer

With the election of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu as the President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB), CHP-affiliated municipalities began receiving institutional support for the first time in a long while. During the İmamoğlu era, significant support in the form of service vehicles (fire trucks, garbage trucks, graders, excavators, etc.) was provided to CHP-affiliated municipalities, while municipalities belonging to different parties were not left in the background either.

However, with İmamoğlu's arrest on March 23, a new process began at the TBB.

KARALAR WAS ARRESTED SHORTLY AFTER

Following İmamoğlu's arrest, the first election for the TBB Acting Presidency was held on March 28. In this election, Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar was elected as the acting president. However, Karalar's tenure was also short-lived. Zeydan Karalar, who was detained on July 5, was arrested shortly thereafter.

According to information shared by journalist Saygı Öztürk, an offer was made to Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş for the TBB Acting Presidency, which became vacant following Karalar's arrest. Direct contact was established with Yavaş. However, Mansur Yavaş did not accept the offer, stating that he was already the President of the Union of Historical Towns and did not find it appropriate to undertake both duties simultaneously.

VAHAP SEÇER IS IN OFFICE

Following these developments, eyes turned to Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer. Seçer, one of the experienced figures of the CHP, was nominated for the TBB Acting Presidency following the arrests of both İmamoğlu and Karalar.

In the election held on July 16, Seçer received 131 votes and was elected as the Acting President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey.