The Üsküdar municipal council has appointed Sibel Tan Çetinkaya, a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), as acting mayor, according to Diken. The decision was made on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, following a contentious election process within the council.
The vote came after a period of political tension in the district. Medyascope reported that Üsküdar remained under CHP control following the disputed selection. The process drew sharp criticism from opposition members, with reports from Sabah detailing irregularities in the vote count. Specifically, Sabah reported that ballots cast for the AK Party were repeatedly invalidated, with one instance involving election officials allegedly mistaking the letter "G" for the number "6" on a ballot.
Özgür Çelik, a political figure involved in the proceedings, told BirGün that the election was marked by attempts to undermine the process through threats and pressure. He stated that despite these efforts, the outcome was upheld.
The dispute highlights the broader political friction in Istanbul's districts, where local governance has become a flashpoint between the ruling AK Party and the opposition CHP. Üsküdar, a historically significant district on the city's Asian side, has seen its municipal leadership become a focus of national attention due to the narrow margins and procedural disputes.
The appointment of Çetinkaya solidifies CHP's hold on the district for now, but the controversy over the vote's legitimacy is unlikely to fade quickly. Observers will be watching whether the AK Party pursues legal challenges or if the dispute escalates further in the coming weeks.
