MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s proposal to increase the number of provinces in Turkey to 100 and the number of districts to 1000 continues to be a subject of debate. Retired Chief Civil Inspector Recep Sanal opposed the proposal, stating that increasing administrative units would not bring development on its own.
Sanal argued that making a settlement a province or a district is not sufficient for economic development, and that the primary determining factor is public and private sector investment. According to Sanal, granting new administrative statuses independent of actual need could weaken rather than strengthen the management structure.
Within the scope of the “100 Provinces 1000 Districts Project” prepared by Bahçeli’s party, the goal is to establish 19 new provinces and 78 new districts. Thus, it is envisioned that the current 81 provinces will be increased to 100 and the 922 districts to 1000.
Speaking to Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk, Sanal expressed the view that this approach would not solve the development problem. Sanal stated that regulations not based on a real need could result in “provinces becoming districts and districts becoming villages.”
Sanal suggested that instead of increasing administrative units, the focus should be on reducing them, proposing the creation of central villages, large districts, and large provinces. Arguing that underdeveloped villages could be turned into neighborhoods, districts into villages, and provinces into districts, Sanal claimed that reducing the number of provinces in Turkey to approximately 30 would be more in line with the principles of management science.
Sanal also noted that new administrative levels could, over time, bring up debates about a transition to a state-like structure.
News Source: 12punto
