In the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Istanbul, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has made a politically charged statement that appears aimed at legitimizing the government’s next move: the appointment of a trustee to run the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, following the removal of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Just hours after the tremors shook the city, Bahçeli declared: “Istanbul must be entrusted to capable and deserving hands in order to overcome potential disasters.” Though presented as a comment on disaster preparedness, the timing and wording left little doubt that it was a thinly veiled endorsement of a state-appointed trustee — someone deemed “loyal” and “qualified” by the ruling coalition, rather than the electorate.
İmamoğlu, a key opposition leader and potential presidential candidate, was arrested last month on controversial charges of corruption and terrorism support — accusations broadly condemned as politically driven. He has already been stripped of his office, and the central government now appears to be maneuvering to place Istanbul under direct control through a politically loyal appointee.
Bahçeli’s Statement Debunks “Internal Dissent” Narrative
Bahçeli’s remarks also undercut weeks of speculative reporting suggesting internal divisions within the Erdoğan-Bahçeli alliance over İmamoğlu’s prosecution. Prominent commentators, including journalist Deniz Zeyrek, previously claimed that both Erdoğan and Bahçeli were uneasy about the strength of the legal case, with Zeyrek even alleging that Erdoğan was “frustrated” by how aggressively it was being pursued.
Bahçeli’s earthquake-timed message has thoroughly dismantled that narrative. Far from opposing İmamoğlu’s removal, Bahçeli has publicly reframed it as a national imperative — positioning the elimination of elected opposition figures not as an authoritarian overreach, but as a responsible governance decision in the face of potential disaster.
The Real Goal: Seizing Control of Istanbul
This latest move must be understood within the context of Turkey’s broader authoritarian drift. The aim is no longer just to weaken the opposition — it is to institutionalize control over major municipalities by replacing democratically elected mayors with trustees aligned with the ruling bloc.
This strategy has been used before, particularly in southeastern Turkey, where dozens of Kurdish mayors were replaced under similar legal pretexts. Now, the regime is deploying the same tactic in Istanbul — the heart of Turkey’s political, economic, and cultural life.
Bahçeli’s invocation of “capable and deserving hands” is not an offhand comment — it is a coded endorsement of trustee governance, dressed up in the language of public safety. His statement is intended to create a moral and strategic rationale for overriding the democratic will of millions of Istanbul voters.
What is now abundantly clear is that there is no meaningful rift within the Erdoğan-Bahçeli alliance. Their partnership remains tactically aligned around a single goal: ensuring permanent regime control by neutralizing any political threat, whether through elections or legal engineering.
The message is unmistakable: Istanbul will not be allowed to remain in opposition hands, regardless of voter sentiment.
By: News About Turkey (NAT)
