Trustee backstage from journalist Saygı Öztürk: 'The number will reach 15-16'

The wave of trustee appointments that began with the CHP-run Esenyurt Municipality on October 31 continues.

Following the DEM Party-run Mardin, Batman, and Halfeti municipalities, trustees were appointed to the DEM Party-run Tunceli and CHP-run Ovacık municipalities yesterday evening (November 22).

The Ministry of Interior announced that Tunceli Governor Bülent Tekbıyıkoğlu has been appointed in place of DEM Party Tunceli Mayor Cevdet Konak, and Ovacık District Governor Hüseyin Şamil Sözen has been appointed in place of CHP Ovacık Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül.

"THIS NUMBER SEEMS LIKELY TO REACH 15-16"

Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk stated that trustee appointments could continue and drew attention to the Van Metropolitan Municipality. Speaking on Sözcü TV, Öztürk used the expressions, "There are places where trustee appointments are planned. According to the information I have received, this number seems likely to reach 15-16."

Öztürk said the following:

"Now, first of all, let's state this. Trustee appointments are being made. Since when have they been made? They have been made since 2016. Because that year, the Presidency issued a decree-law. This decree was published in the Official Gazette in November 2016 and became law.

Since this law has been enacted, it will be implemented in some way. However, while implementing this law, one must think about this: Of course, there is rightful opposition to the appointment of trustees. But then, efforts should also be made to change this law. Well, are the opposition parties making the necessary effort in this regard? This is an important question. Has a legislative proposal been submitted? What is being done about this issue? The public needs to be informed about this.

When we look at the current practices, we generally see a situation like this: A person does not necessarily have to be convicted for a trustee to be appointed. In fact, it is not even a requirement for the person to be on trial. In current practices, just as in civil service, a security investigation method is used.

In the past, security investigations were not conducted for people to be hired as civil servants. However, later, when it was determined that some people hired were problematic, this process changed. Now, a similar situation is being experienced in mayoralties. After individuals start their duties as public officials, retrospective security investigations and archive screenings are conducted. If an organizational connection or a similar situation is detected, these individuals are temporarily suspended.

This suspension does not mean that the person is being tried or convicted. It is just a temporary situation. This process needs to be known.

Now, are there trustee appointments that will continue in the coming period? Of course there are. There are places where trustee appointments are planned. According to the information I have received, this number seems likely to reach 15-16.

Well, how will these appointments be made? To avoid a major backlash, instead of making them all at once, small-scale appointments are expected. For example, in places like Tunceli, Ovacık, or Halfeti, trustee appointments will be made mostly in district mayoralties.

For instance, a trustee appointment regarding the Van Mayor was on the agenda. However, this appointment was halted for a while. This process is not over. In the future, in line with lawsuits and information, Van may come to the agenda again. It seems that such appointments will continue."

News Source: 12punto