İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who joined the AKP, sent messages to district mayors in İzmir. In a statement to the pro-government newspaper Yeni Asır, Tugay stated that he had heard some rhetoric suggesting that the Metropolitan Municipal Council was being prevented from functioning.
Tugay expressed that he had heard there were some mayors who held the view that "we will not let the council function," and said he hoped this was not true. He emphasized that the services of the Metropolitan Municipality concern not only the central administration but also all 30 districts of İzmir.
"If there is an intention to prevent the Metropolitan Municipality from functioning, they should remember this: the Metropolitan Municipality also provides services to their districts. When the municipality does not work, everyone is affected; this would not just be Cemil Tugay's problem," said Tugay, adding that he had no intention of political polarization.
Stating that he would continue to provide services to all districts of İzmir in a "fair and proper manner," Tugay noted that there might be a period of contentious processes in the council, but that balances would eventually be established. Tugay remarked, "I am a conciliatory person, not a combative one. If someone attempts to prevent us from providing services, I will give the necessary response in any setting. I hope they do not attempt such a thing, because that is not how politics is done."
News Source: 12punto
