Acting mayor election in Adalar passes with tension: 3 CHP members who voted for AKP candidate protested

The election for the acting mayor of Adalar Municipality was tense due to the distribution of votes in the council and the arguments that took place during the session. In the election held at the Taş Mektep in Büyükada, AKP candidate Kemal Türkyılmaz was elected acting mayor of Adalar with the votes of the members who remained in the hall during the third and fourth rounds.

The election was held after Medine Pamuk, who had been elected acting mayor following the arrest of Adalar Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat on June 23, resigned on September 14 citing health issues.

In the first round, where a total of 9 council members cast their votes, CHP candidate Aytül Ekşiyan received 4 votes, while AKP candidate Kemal Türkyılmaz received 5 votes. In the second round, 1 vote was declared invalid; Ekşiyan and Türkyılmaz remained at 4 votes each.

Following the second round, an argument broke out between the CHP council member chairing the session, İsmail Onur Balbinar, and observers from the CHP and YENİ Party. It was reported that as the argument escalated, the CHP and YENİ Party members decided to leave the election along with their council members.

THEY LEFT THROUGH THE BACK DOOR UNDER POLICE SECURITY MEASURES

During this process, CHP members Yavuz Çifçioğlu, İsmail Onur Balbinar, and Ahmet Tanay Garip remained in the hall. The election continued without an audience with 3 CHP and 2 AKP council members present. In the third and fourth rounds, Türkyılmaz received the votes of all members present in the hall.

Following the election, the 3 CHP members who voted for the AKP candidate drew backlash. After the crowd in front of the building dispersed, the members in question left through the back door under police security measures.

Çifçioğlu, Balbinar, and Garip were also protested during a march held later in Büyükada. The developments have sparked a new debate within the CHP and local politics following the acting mayor election in the Adalar Municipal Council.

News Source: 12punto