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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2546(RSP))

On Recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Turkiye

B-10-2025-0124

on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Assita Kanko, Alexandr Vondra

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This resolution addresses the recent dismissals and arrests of mayors in Türkiye, which it sees as a coordinated effort to dismantle political opposition through judicial and administrative means. It calls on the Commission to assess these actions against the Copenhagen criteria and establish monitoring, on the EEAS to create a task force, and on the Venice Commission to issue an opinion. It also underlines the need to resume the Kurdish peace process.

Key points

  1. Condemns the dismissal of democratically elected mayors and their replacement with government-appointed administrators, citing examples such as Siirt and Akdeniz.
  2. Notes the arrest of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat in a corruption probe and legal challenges against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, including a potential political ban and a defamation lawsuit.
  3. Observes that opposition municipal officials, especially from pro-Kurdish parties, have faced frequent arrests and dismissals since the 2019 local elections.
  4. States that the timing of legal actions coincides with declining public support for the ruling party, raising concerns about political use of judicial mechanisms.
  5. Asserts that these actions breach international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Venice Commission standards, and the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
  6. Calls on the Commission to prepare an assessment of the systematic targeting of opposition politicians and establish an enhanced monitoring mechanism for local democracy in Türkiye.
  7. Calls on the EEAS to establish a task force to monitor and report persecution of opposition politicians, working with EU delegations.
  8. Calls on the Venice Commission to issue an urgent opinion on the compatibility of mayoral dismissals with European standards and the use of charges against opposition figures.
  9. Underlines the need to resume the Kurdish peace process.

Who is affected

  • Opposition mayors and political figures in Türkiye, particularly from pro-Kurdish parties, who face dismissals, arrests, and legal challenges.
  • The Commission, EEAS, and Venice Commission are called upon to take monitoring and assessment actions.

Figures and deadlines

  • TRY 1 million in damages demanded in a defamation lawsuit against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
  • January 13, 2025, arrest of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat.
  • January 20 investigation against Ekrem İmamoğlu.