The first session of the Silivri Municipal Council's November meeting began with a dispute over seating arrangements before the agenda items could be addressed. Council members Ebru Akgün Pekel and Cihan Demir, who resigned from the CHP to join the New Party, stated that they did not wish to sit in the rows of their former party.
Pekel and Demir demanded that a separate area be allocated for them in the council under the name of the New Party. The two members, who stated they would attend the meeting standing if their request was not met, were supported by the New Party Silivri District Acting Chair, Attorney Nilay Öndül Kalaman.
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION DISPUTE
CHP council members argued that while there was information regarding Pekel and Demir's resignation from the CHP, no official notification had been submitted to the council administration regarding their transition to the New Party. Therefore, it was stated that no changes had been made to the seating arrangement.
The New Party members stated that they had conveyed their requests verbally and had not been informed that a separate petition was required. As the debate escalated, it was reported that MHP Group Spokesperson Sultan Aşkın and AK Party Group Spokesperson Celalettin Yazıcı warned the parties to remain calm.
In a statement made by the municipal administration, it was noted that the resignation of the two council members from the CHP was known, but that the official notification regarding their transition to the New Party had not yet been submitted to the council.
It was recorded that Acting Chair Yalçın Ekici stated that the seating arrangement in the council could be reorganized once the necessary petitions were submitted. While the session was expected to continue with the agenda following the debate, it was stated that the seating arrangement would be clarified after an official application.
News Source: 12punto
