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Hakan Bahçetepe, who won the Gaziosmanpaşa mayoral election as the Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate in the March 31, 2024 local elections, has been detained as part of an ongoing investigation.
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This development has brought the political balance in the district back to the agenda, and the scenario that could unfold if Bahçetepe is removed from office has drawn attention.
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REPLACEMENT TO BE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL
If Bahçetepe is suspended from duty, it is expected that the Ministry of Interior will intervene and a mayor will be temporarily elected from within the council. However, this situation may not be limited to just a change of office, as the distribution of seats in the municipal council makes it quite difficult for the CHP to remain in power.
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PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE HAS THE ADVANTAGE IN THE COUNCIL
The Gaziosmanpaşa Municipal Council consists of 37 members. The seat distribution following the March 31, 2024 elections is as follows:
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AKP: 18 members
CHP: 15 members
MHP: 3 members
Independent: 1 member
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According to this picture, the People's Alliance, formed by the AKP and MHP, holds a total of 21 seats. In the event that a mayor is elected from among the council members, this majority paves the way for the mayoral seat to return to the AKP.
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The 2024 local elections in Gaziosmanpaşa were highly contested. The CHP wave across Istanbul was reflected in the district, but the results remained neck-and-neck. Although initial results on election night favored the CHP, votes were recounted following objections filed by the AKP. This process continued for days, and the Supreme Election Council (YSK) made the final decision. The YSK officially declared that Bahçetepe had won the election after the vote margin was maintained.
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TOWARDS A SEAT CRISIS?
However, with Bahçetepe's detention, the possibility of a change in administration in the district is back on the table. The Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality, which the CHP won after a major struggle, could change hands in a short time due to the arithmetic of the council.
News Source : 12punto
