Turkish Parliament erupts as government and opposition clash over trustees

On Nov. 5, the Turkish Parliament engaged in a heated debate over the appointment of trustees to municipalities in Esenyurt, Batman, Mardin, and Halfeti due to the mayors’ alleged links to the terrorist group PKK/YPG.

The ruling AK Party defended these moves as necessary security measures in the Turkish Parliament, while opposition leaders condemned them as undemocratic actions targeting local governance.

Main opposition party criticizes trustee assignments in Türkiye

Deputy chair of the main opposition party CHP, Ali Mahir Basarir, strongly criticized the recent trustee appointments in the Turkish Parliament.

They extend their hand, they speak of peace from the parliamentary podium, yet they launch operations in Esenyurt and arrest the mayor, appointing a trustee. Where are we headed?

Turkish Parliament’s CHP representative Ali Mahir Basarir stated.

He also questioned the administration’s push for a constitutional amendment allowing President Erdogan another term, doubting its ability to address Türkiye’s challenges.

DEM Party Deputy Chair Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit echoed these concerns, arguing that Türkiye is straying from democratic norms.

Often aligned with Kurdish interests, the DEM Party argued that trustee appointments, especially in Kurdish areas, erode public trust in Türkiye’s democratic system, an issue they have frequently raised in the Turkish Parliament.

Ruling AK Party and alliance partner MHP defend trustee actions as lawful

Since 2016, the government has appointed 149 trustees, largely in municipalities where officials were accused of ties to terrorism.

Nationalist MHP Group Deputy Chair Erkan Akcay defended the government, noting that the MHP, which supports the ruling AK Party through the People’s Alliance, has backed Erdogan’s reelection. “President Erdogan’s extended experience ensures Türkiye’s stability,” Akcay said in the Turkish Parliament.

AK Party Deputy Chair Muhammet Emin Akbasoglu cited Türkiye’s Constitution and Municipal Law, saying, “The Constitution and municipal laws explicitly permit such measures.”

He explained that the Interior Ministry’s actions were lawful, and aimed at protecting the public from harmful affiliations, which became the focal point in Turkish Parliament.

Turkish Parliament members voice concerns over democratic rights

The debate expanded as opposition leaders expressed concerns about the erosion of democratic rights in the Turkish Parliament.

Bulent Tezcan, a CHP deputy from Aydin, alleged that the trustee system “isn’t isolated; it’s part of a broader plan to secure power.” He claimed that the appointments ignore public choice and violate constitutional rights.

DEM Party’s Saruhan Oluc argued that trustees disenfranchise Kurdish communities. “The government sends a message that it will not respect the choices of the Kurdish people,” Oluc said, adding that trustee appointments hinder local governance.

Turkish government denies discrimination, asserts equality

Responding to ethnic bias claims, AK Party Deputy Chair Muhammet Emin Akbasoglu denied any discrimination, asserting that Türkiye’s laws apply equally to all citizens.

Everyone, whether Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, or from any other background, who holds citizenship in the Republic of Türkiye is an equal citizen. No one is punished for simply being Turkish, Kurdish, or Arab. If someone, regardless of their ethnic background, commits a crime that breaks the law, they will face the appropriate consequences.

The session concluded with the Turkish Parliament rejecting the main opposition party CHP’s proposal to investigate the legality of the trustee appointments, primarily with support from AK Party and MHP deputies.

Government leaders affirmed that these actions align with Türkiye’s legal framework, while opposition leaders pledged to keep challenging what they see as anti-democratic measures.