Mayor to stand down

BÜYÜKKONUK Mayor Ahmet Sennaroğlu will stand down from his post later this year, he announced on Tuesday. He wrote on social media that he would not be seeking re-election at this June’s local elections.

He said that he had taken the decision “together with my family”, despite the National Unity Party (UBP), which he represents, saying its incumbent mayors would be automatically selected as candidates.

Mr Sennaroğlu said he would continue to remain politically active but at “different platforms” within the UBP and would become “much more involved with the public”.

He did not reveal the reasons behind his decision in the Facebook post, but promised to more details at a press conference “soon”.

Mr Sennaroğlu said that during his four years at the helm of the council he had served “every village” under his remit — and would “continue to do so” — and had secured four million TL in aid for projects from Turkey.

He said work aimed at “opening a university between Balalan and Yedikonuk had been speeded up” since he took over.

“What I have done for the village and its district is obvious,” he added.

Mr Sennaroğlu’s announcement came just weeks after he stoked controversy by organising a mini-protest against President Mustafa Akıncı.

He had ordered three council workers to lay a black wreath at the gates of the Presidency after Mr Akıncı criticised demonstrators who attacked the office of Afrika newspaper in Lefkoşa last month.

Mr Sennaroğlu had reportedly been among a larger crowd which was protesting against the newspaper over criticism it had made of Turkey’s ongoing military offensive in northern Syria.

His stance led to calls for a boycott of the annual Büyükkonuk Donkey Day, which took place a fortnight ago, and the Eco-Day festival in May.

Mr Sennaroğlu had also said that he wanted to postpone this year’s Eco-Day until after the local elections — a move opposed by organisers because of the higher summer temperatures.