Ousted governor vows to ‘keep pedaling’ after tights controversy
Former Governor Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli of Türkiye’s northeastern province of Ardahan has vowed to “keep pedaling” after his removal from office over social media videos of him cycling in sports tights sparked a nationwide debate.
Çiçekli recently drew widespread attention by frequently sharing videos of himself cycling and promoting outdoor sports online. He also organized an Ardahan cycling festival on July 11, noting that around 1,000 people participated, and posted footage of the large groups of cyclists. In other posts, he was seen rowing on Çıldır Lake, describing sports as “a unifying force.”
The governor came under political criticism after main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) lawmaker İnan Akgün Alp accused him in parliament of behaving like a “TikTok governor.”
Referring to Çiçekli, the MP added, “He walks around in cycling tights with four bodyguards, rides his bicycle all day among citizens. This is not how a governor should act.”
