On Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye
B-10-2025-0103
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Vladimir Prebilič, Mélissa Camara, Mounir Satouri, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Catarina Vieira, Maria Ohisalo, Erik Marquardt, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Ville Niinistö, Villy Søvndal
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This resolution condemns the dismissal and arrest of elected mayors in Türkiye on terrorism charges and their replacement by government appointees, calling for their release and reinstatement.¶¶ It urges Türkiye to end repression, repeal a 2016 legal provision, and respect EU accession criteria, and calls on EU institutions to condition funding and consider sanctions.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for the immediate and unconditional release, acquittal and reinstatement of elected mayor Sofya Alağaş, co-mayors Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan, and all other arbitrarily arrested and dismissed mayors.¶
- Condemns the Turkish authorities' continuation of dismissing democratically elected mayors on bogus terrorism charges and replacing them with government appointees, undermining democratic processes and violating the right to free and fair elections.¶
- Urges Turkish authorities to immediately cease and reverse repression of political opposition and respect voters' rights to elect their chosen representatives, in line with Council of Europe and Venice Commission recommendations.¶
- Urges Türkiye to repeal Article 45, paragraph 1 added in 2016 to the Municipality Law and ensure ineligibility of candidates is assessed prior to elections and based on a final criminal conviction.¶
- Reminds Türkiye of its EU candidate status and commitment to aligning with the EU acquis, including rule of law and fundamental rights as outlined in the Copenhagen criteria.¶
- Calls on the European Commission, the HR/VP and Member States to raise the arrest and removal of opposition mayors and the take-over of municipalities with their Turkish counterparts.¶
- Calls on the European Commission and Council to make financial assistance under IPA III and NDICI to Türkiye strictly conditional on respect for rule of law and fundamental rights, and to allocate sufficient funding to civil society.¶
- Calls on the HRVP to consider restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanction Regime against Turkish officials responsible for illegal removal of elected mayors and those functioning as government appointees.¶
Who is affected
- Elected mayors in Türkiye, particularly those from opposition parties, who face dismissal, arrest, and replacement by government appointees.¶¶
- Turkish authorities, who are urged to cease repression and repeal a legal provision.¶¶
- European Commission, HR/VP, and Member States, who are called to raise the issue and consider sanctions.¶¶
- Civil society in Türkiye, which should receive sufficient funding.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 49.63% of votes won by DEM Party in Siirt mayorship in March 2024 local elections.¶
- 36.92% of votes won by DEM Party in Akdeniz mayorship in March 2024 local elections.
- 149 municipalities from which elected opposition mayors have been removed since 2016.¶
- 10 opposition mayors replaced by government appointees since March 2024 local elections.