Opposition mayors urge negotiations with Erdogan amid municipal asset seizure fears

The recent practice of “collecting debts at source” in Türkiye is putting debtor municipalities in a difficult situation.

In particular, municipalities that report difficulties in paying workers’ salaries face the threat of asset seizure.

Meanwhile, in the wake of a recent asset seizure at the Antalya Dosemealti Municipality, following similar incidents in Mersin, Samsun Atakum and Izmir Foca, fear of further seizures has spread among main opposition (Republican People’s Party) CHP-run municipalities.

As a result, mayors from these municipalities have appealed to CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel, urging him to seek a resolution by meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During a meeting of the Social Democrat Municipalities Coordination Council at CHP Headquarters, the mayors expressed their concerns and specifically requested the abandonment of the “direct collection of debts from the source” practice.

The mayors warned Ozel that the upcoming collective bargaining period could leave them unable to pay municipal employees if the current situation persists.

Pressure on CHP leader Ozel

CHP leaders are also pushing Ozel to engage with Erdogan to prevent further seizures related to insurance premium debts and to seek forgiveness for the interest on these debts.

If this meeting takes place, it will mark the fourth meeting between the two leaders since the election.

On the other hand, in response to the crisis, it has been decided that CHP deputy chairmen will take proactive steps to restructure the municipalities’ debts and explore ways to increase their revenues.

CHP Deputy Chairman Yalcin Karatepe is expected to request a meeting with Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, while Gokhan Zeybek will seek an appointment with Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum.

Criticism from ruling AK Party

Meanwhile, Nihat Yalcin, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Group Deputy Chairman in the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB), criticized CHP municipalities for not paying their restructured debts.

“The restructuring law was passed. If you were going to pay, why didn’t you pay then? Some municipalities even applied for restructuring but later canceled their plans without making any installment payments,” Yalcin remarked.