28 trustees officially appointed to municipalities in 15 provinces
According to the reports of the state-run Anatolian Agency (AA), 28 trustees have been appointed, based on a statutory decree, in place of the 28 municipality heads who had been suspended from their positions ‘in scope of investigations on their aid and support to PKK-KCK and FETÖ’.
While 24 of the posts have been indicated to be replaced in regards to PKK-KCK connections; the other 4 are in relation to FETÖ operations. Of the municipality officials who have been replaced with a trustee, 2 are cosmopolitan municipality heads; 24 are district heads; and 2 are town heads. 12 of them are still in custody.
The provinces where either the cosmopolitan municipality heads or district governance positions have been replaced are Batman, Hakkari, Adana, Ağrı, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Giresun, Iğdır, Konya, Mardin, Muş, Siirt, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, and Van.
The new trustees have been announced to be starting their positions as of 9:00 o’clock this morning (September 11).
‘Democracy Statement’ of the Minister of Interior Affairs
In the official statement of the Interior Ministry, it has been reminded that a new regulation on the law of municipalities has been enacted through the statutory decree (No. 674) passed on September 1st. Following is the rest of the Ministry’s explanation: “It has been decided that there is going to be appointments, within the next 15 working days, in place of the municipality heads and parliament members who had already been suspended and put under investigation with claims of their aid and support to terror or to terrorist organizations.”
Ministry’s statement also includes the following: “It is an essence of democracy and state of law that national will is reflected on local governances. However, if the municipality officials abuse the votes and taxes of our citizens and the climate of democracy; and, if they get influenced by terrorist organizations that target our country’s unity and uniformity, then, it is the fundamental duty of the state to take precautions against those who extort national will. The political power that comes to fore with the resources enabled by our citizens’ taxes and with their votes cannot be permuted to terrorist organizations. There is no legitimacy in misusing the people’s free will to commit crimes after being elected... It is, of course, state’s duty for ensure rule of law.”
Interior Minister Soylu had recently signaled it
A few days ago, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu had signaled that 28 trustees were to be appointed in place of municipality heads and officials in the southeast region.
While speaking at the graduation ceremony of Police Academy, Soylu had said: “With the authority assigned to us under the statutory decrees, we are going to appoint 28 trustees. Within the next 15 days, these 28 municipalities will be run not by terrorists and by the orders of Qandil, rather, by the command of the people who have given a place in their hearts for this flag of crescent and star! Everyone should know it like this!”
Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-