Mansur Yavaş warns ‘this cannot continue’, calls for urgent action amid pressure on municipalities

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş has issued a stark warning over mounting pressure on opposition-run municipalities, urging urgent political action and calling on CHP leadership to escalate the issue domestically and internationally.

Yavaş: ‘We can no longer just watch’

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş delivered strong criticism of recent developments targeting municipalities during his speech at the Ali Dinçer 1st Social Democratic Municipalism Days.

Declaring that “this cannot continue,” Yavaş said the current environment requires immediate and decisive action, warning that remaining passive is no longer an option.

“We cannot simply watch what is happening anymore,” he said, emphasizing that recent events have created a climate of growing concern among local officials.

Calls for coordinated political response

Yavaş also urged Özgür Özel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, to take swift action upon returning from his overseas trip.

He argued that the issue should be elevated both domestically and internationally:

“Once our party leader returns from Spain, we must convene immediately, take a collective decision, and present this situation to both the Turkish public and the international community.”

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Municipal leaders feel targeted

According to Yavaş, a sense of anxiety is spreading among opposition mayors, fueled by what he described as increasing legal pressure and coordinated campaigns on social media.

He claimed that organized online groups are targeting municipal leaders with threats and messaging such as “you’re next,” which he said is undermining morale and disrupting governance.

“All our mayors are now concerned that they could face unjust accusations or investigations,” Yavaş said.

Criticism of judicial processes

Yavaş argued that legal procedures are being misused, stating that “the rule of law has effectively been suspended.”

While stressing that public officials should be subject to legal scrutiny, he strongly criticized the use of detention:

“Of course they should be investigated, but no one should accept or normalize their imprisonment before due process is completed.”

Challenge to government over past allegations

In addition to current concerns, Yavaş renewed his criticism of the Interior Ministry’s handling of past allegations involving former Ankara mayor Melih Gökçek.

He called on Interior Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu (note: actually transport minister but referenced politically in text context) to allow an investigation into claims related to alleged irregularities during the FETÖ period.

Yavaş pointed to a ruling by the Council of State that overturned a previous decision blocking an investigation, arguing that authorities should act without delay:

“Court decisions must be implemented within one month. Permission for an investigation should be granted immediately.”

Defends his own record

Responding to ongoing scrutiny, Yavaş firmly rejected allegations of wrongdoing, stating:

• He has not misused public funds
• He has not accepted bribes
• He has proactively referred any allegations involving his staff to prosecutors

“I have nothing to fear from inspections,” he said, adding that repeated audits had failed to uncover misconduct.

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