The 46-nation Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has reported a “generally degrading situation” with regard to local democracy in Turkey.
In its latest report on Turkey’s application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Congress welcomes the impressive turnout (over 84%) in local elections in 2019 – one of the highest rates across the Council of Europe, demonstrating a strong interest in local self-government.
However, the Congress expresses particular concerns on a number of issues, including the fact that the government continues to suspend mayors when a criminal investigation is opened against them – based on an overly-broad definition of terrorism – and replace them with non-elected officials.
This seriously undermines the democratic choice of Turkish citizens, according to the Congress, and impedes the proper functioning of local democracy in Turkey.
Council of Europe Congress highlights “generally degrading situation” of local democracy in Turkey