AK Party rejuvenation done as last mayor quits

THE MAYOR of the northwestern province of Balıkesir, Ahmet Edip Uğur, became the latest to step down from his post yesterday, in a move that led the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to wrap up its rejuvenation.

BALIKESİR Mayor Ahmet Edip Uğur (L) became the latest and probably the last mayor to step down from his post yesterday as the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) wraps up its rejuvenation.

The mayor of the northwestern province was on a list of high-level officials from the ruling party who party leaders asked to step down.

At a press conference, Uğur said he also quit from his party.

Although the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have not been clear on why several mayors were asked to resign, it is believed that these local representatives of the party have been subject to public complaints.

For his part, Erdoğan has said that the party, in power since 2003, has been suffering from “metal fatigue” and needs a renewal of its cadres.

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş was the first to step down in September. In the past month, Topbaş was followed by the mayors of Niğde, Düzce and Bursa provinces.

Before Uğur broke his silence on the issue, Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek resigned last Saturday. In the 15 years it has been in power, the AK Party has seen a number of changes to its ruling cadre before and after the multiple elections it has won. However, this is the first time that several mayors have resigned in such a short period of time.