CHP retains Üsküdar Municipality after contested vote
The Republican People’s Party (CHP) retained control of Istanbul’s Üsküdar Municipality on Aug. 5, after a contentious council vote held after Sinem Dedetaş was arrested and suspended from office last week.
CHP candidate Sibel Tan Çetinkaya was elected acting mayor in the fourth round of voting, securing 22 votes from the 44-member council. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate Dündar Ziya Gültekin received 18 votes, while four ballots were declared invalid.
The vote followed three inconclusive rounds. In the first round, Çetinkaya received 26 votes and Gültekin 16, with one blank and one invalid ballot. The second round produced the same result, but a required absolute majority was not reached.
In the third round, Çetinkaya received 21 votes and Gültekin 18, while five ballots were deemed invalid. Both party groups submitted objections over the validity of the votes.
