Statement on Türkiye

CEMR issues a statement condemning escalating pressure against democratically elected mayors in Türkiye

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has issued a statement expressing its deep concern over the intensifying political pressure on local democracy in Türkiye, following the detention of Zeydan Karalar, Mayor of Adana and Deputy-President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), CEMR’s member organisation.

In recent months, an increasing number of opposition-affiliated mayors and staff members of the municipalities have been suspended, prosecuted, or detained in ways that obstruct their ability to carry out their democratic mandates.

The detention of Mayor Karalar follows the earlier arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, former President of UMT. These successive events “risk undermining the principles of local democracy and have potentially far-reaching consequences for stability, democratic resilience, and social cohesion across our continent”. “The legitimacy of democratic governances relies on strong, autonomous local governments, and respect for political pluralism”, defend the signatories.

CEMR calls on the European and international communities to keep the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and local self-government at the core of their engagement with Türkiye.

“We respectfully urge the prompt release of all detained Mayors and officials and the full restoration of their rights to perform their democratic functions without fear or interference”, the signatories declare. “Democracy and local self-government cannot and will not be compromised”, they conclude.

Signatories of this statement include: