The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is preparing to send a fact-finding mission to Türkiye following what it describes as “democratic backsliding” including the widespread dismissal of elected mayors.
Although the situation came to international attention after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on 23 March 2025, the Council of Europe had already scheduled a debate last week in response to the close to 150 elected mayors many from opposition parties who have been dismissed since 2016, often replaced by government-appointed trustees.
