The balance of power has shifted in that district: Is Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality passing to the AKP?

In the 5th wave of ongoing investigations into Republican People's Party (CHP) municipalities, arrest warrants were issued for several individuals, including former CHP deputy Aykut Erdoğdu, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, and Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe.

Following Bahçetepe's arrest and his subsequent suspension from duty by the Ministry of Interior, the political balance in Gaziosmanpaşa has shifted.

GAZİOSMANPAŞA ADMINISTRATION MAY PASS TO THE AKP

In the March 31, 2024 local elections, CHP candidate Hakan Bahçetepe was elected mayor after narrowly defeating his AKP rival Hasan Tahsin Usta by a margin of just 0.33 percentage points.

While Bahçetepe received 40.44 percent of the vote, Usta remained at 40.11 percent. However, despite the CHP winning the mayoral seat in this election, the majority in the district municipal council remained in the hands of the People's Alliance.

In the council distribution, the AKP became the leading party with 40.86 percent of the vote, while the CHP placed second with 38.86 percent. The New Welfare Party (YRP) received 6.31 percent, and the DEM Party received 3.94 percent. With these results, the People's Alliance holds an absolute majority in the municipal council.

Following the removal of a mayor from office, legislation dictates that a new name for the vacant mayoral seat is elected by the municipal council.

In the vote to be held in the Gaziosmanpaşa Municipal Council, where the CHP remains in the minority, the AKP is expected to determine the new mayor. In this scenario, it appears likely that the administration in Gaziosmanpaşa will return to the AKP.