Municipal transfers from CHP to AKP spark debate: Zoning allegations in Tuzla come to the fore

The switch of some mayors elected from the CHP in the March 31, 2024 local elections to the AKP has reignited the "transfer" debate in politics. Among the names who joined the AKP in August were İstanbul Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl, Çekmeköy Mayor Orhan Çerkez, and Şile Deputy Mayor Sacit Terzi.

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated at a badge-pinning ceremony on August 1, "Both moral superiority and psychological superiority are under this roof." However, the Tuzla example, in particular, has amplified discussions that zoning, rent, and investigation issues in local governments lie behind the party changes.

ZONING TRANSFER DEBATE IN TUZLA

According to Sol Haber, at the center of the debate in Tuzla is a zoning practice known as "floor area ratio (FAR) transfer," which was adopted during the previous AKP era. With a decision taken unanimously by the Tuzla Municipal Council in 2018, the way was paved for the construction rights of plots that could not be developed because they were designated as parks, roads, schools, or social facility areas to be used in other parcels in exchange for donating these shares to the municipality.

It is alleged that this system eventually turned into an area of major irregularity. It was claimed that the zoning rights of some plots remaining in social facility areas were sold to construction companies for high prices, and that the same rights were used more than once because some transactions were not removed from municipal records. It was argued that these transactions created additional construction and floor increases in Tuzla.

The report stated that the Tuzla Municipality brought the plan change prepared for 1,025 parcels where FAR transfer was applied across the district to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Council, but that criticisms were made that this would mean whitewashing irregular transactions. Bingöl, on the other hand, defended his switch to the AKP by arguing that grievances could not be resolved because approval was not granted in the IMM Council.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in a previous statement regarding Bingöl's transition process to the AKP, had said, "They are threatening the man with his 3-month-old baby, his wife who just gave birth, and his property." In response, the debate was not limited to allegations of political pressure; it also brought up the question of how decisive zoning and rent relations in municipalities are in the process of changing parties.

Following the August additions, Ankara's Gölbaşı Mayor Yakup Odabaşı, Kahramankazan Mayor Selim Çırpanoğlu, Çanakkale Eceabat Mayor Saim Zileli, Kütahya Domaniç Mayor Engin Uysal, and Tekirdağ Hayrabolu Mayor Tuncer Başoğlu were also counted among the names who switched from the CHP to the AKP.

Gölbaşı Mayor Yakup Odabaşı's statement shortly before joining the AKP, "The main goal is service. Our goal is to serve our Gölbaşı... But of course, politics is dynamic. None of us know what tomorrow will bring," also drew attention in terms of how the transfers were justified.

The changing of parties by mayors has reopened the debate on voter will formed in local elections, the relations of municipalities with the central government, and transparency in local governments. The Tuzla example has become one of the most visible files in this debate.

News Source: 12punto