Skip to content
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2546(RSP))

On Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye

B-10-2025-0100

on behalf of The Left Group · Rapporteur: Isabel Serra Sánchez, Özlem Demirel

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The resolution condemns the removal and arrest of elected mayors in Türkiye, calling it a violation of democratic rights and part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent. It urges Türkiye to stop appointing trustees, release detained politicians and activists, ensure judicial independence, revise laws to meet international standards, and respect freedom of assembly. It also calls on the Council to make Türkiye's rule of law and fundamental rights obligations central to EU-Türkiye relations.

Key points

  1. Deplores the serious backsliding on fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Türkiye.
  2. Calls on authorities to stop removing mayors and appointing trustees, as it violates the Kurds' right to vote and be elected, and urges the release and reinstatement of democratically elected mayors.
  3. Urges an end to repression of political opponents, human rights defenders, civil servants, journalists, writers, and academics; calls for immediate release of arbitrarily detained individuals and dropping charges.
  4. Strongly condemns the use of the justice system for political purposes and demands judicial independence and due process.
  5. Urges revision of anti-terror law, criminal code, assembly and demonstration law, and disinformation law to comply with international standards.
  6. Condemns repression of demonstrators and calls for respect of freedom of assembly and association.
  7. Calls on the Council to ensure Türkiye's full implementation of rule of law and fundamental rights obligations is integral to EU-Türkiye relations.

Who is affected

  • Türkiye's authorities, including the Interior Ministry and judiciary, are called on to change practices.
  • Detained politicians and activists in Türkiye, such as mayors and Kurdish leaders, would benefit from release.
  • The Council of the EU is urged to link EU-Türkiye relations to rule of law compliance.

Figures and deadlines

  • Eight mayors from DEM and two from CHP were removed, with three currently in detention.