For the regime, it doesn't matter what comes out of the ballot box.

Policy Service

Having lost public approval, the Palace regime's final resort has been its all-out attacks on the opposition. Having fallen to second place after the recent local elections, the government, now aware of its inability to win, is escalating its attacks. While attempts are being made to replace those lost at the ballot box with trustees, arrests, threats, and blackmail, the Palace regime has effectively eliminated the very meaning of elections in the country.

Every attempt to usurp the will of the people has only made the regime's rot more visible. The ballot box has now become a showcase for the Palace.

Finally, the transition of Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu to the AKP, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Case Exchange and the arrest of Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, further developments have reinforced this picture.

The report published by the Society Work Institute titled "What has been happening in the country since the 2024 local elections" once again revealed the extent of this corruption.

According to the published report, following these local elections, 62 municipalities changed hands. While the primary reason for these changes was mayors resigning from their parties and joining the AKP, profiteering, conflicts of interest, threats, and blackmail remained a frequent topic.

Transfers resembling football player transfers were accompanied by operations carried out through the judiciary. Following the recent local elections, 15 mayors were arrested. Trustees were appointed to 13 municipalities, two of which were metropolitan municipalities. Joining the AKP began immediately after the 2024 elections. In the summer, a wave of transfers from district and town municipalities led to the defection of YRP (Yanlı Party) Ali Açmaz in Arıcak Bükardi, Elazığ; independent Ali Öztoklu in Doğanhisar, Konya; YRP (Yanlı Party) Cömert Özen in Feke, Adana; YRP (Yanlı Party) Emrullah Akpunar in Aziziye, Erzurum; and DEM (DEM) Party (DEM) Mehmet Begit in Birecik, Urfa. These transfers were followed in October by the defection of YRP, İYİ (Good) Party, DEM (DEM) Party, and independent mayors to the AKP in numerous provinces, including Sivas, Batman, Trabzon, Ağrı, Konya, Kırşehir, and Bingöl. The recent administration changes and the events unfolding on the fringes of local politics are emerging as an attempt by the regime to escape its crisis. The Palace administration, attempting to regain the legitimacy it failed to secure at the ballot box through transfers and operations, has set its sights on even the most basic civil rights of the people. While the lawlessness, corruption, and profiteering schemes of the Palace are being exposed, the public's problems, especially the economic crisis, remain apparent.

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AKP COULDN'T STEAL THIS TIME, BEYOGLU REMAINED WITH CHP

Deputy Mayor of Beyoğlu Municipality was elected today, replacing Mayor İnan Güney, who was arrested and dismissed. The winner was CHP candidate Sefer Karaahmetoğlu. Before the election even began, a debate broke out between the AKP and CHP factions regarding election security. Following the debate, the location of the cameras was changed. The Beyoğlu Municipal Council consists of 17 CHP members, 11 AKP members, and 2 MHP members, as well as one independent member. The CHP candidate was Attorney Sefer Karaahmetoğlu, while the AKP candidate was Süleyman Baba. In the first and second rounds of voting, 17 CHP and 13 AKP votes were received. In the third round, 16 CHP and 14 AKP votes were received. A total of 30 votes were cast in the fourth round; Karaahmetoğlu, who received 16 votes, was elected deputy mayor, facing his opponent, who received 14 votes.

CHP parliamentary members entered the hall chanting "Believe Güney is our honor" and "There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us." Before the election even began, a dispute erupted between the CHP and AKP groups regarding election security. Following the debate, the cameras were relocated.

In his short speech after being elected, Karaahmetoğlu said, "We haven't won a victory here. Every day you see me here, we will all live with the shame of democracy. We will only strive to follow İnan Güney's footsteps until he is free. We say once again, 'Freedom for İnan Güney.' There is no salvation alone; either justice together or none of us."