At the General Assembly Meeting of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer received the highest number of votes and was elected as the Union’s Deputy President.
In accordance with Article 22 of the Law No. 5355 on Local Administrative Unions and Article 45 of the Law No. 5393 on Municipalities, the General Assembly of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye convened in Ankara with the agenda item “Election of Deputy President,” upon the call of the Ankara Governorship.
Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer and Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç were nominated for the position of Deputy President of the Union.
In the Union Assembly, which consists of 864 members, the Deputy President election was completed in three rounds:
In the first round, Vahap Seçer received 457 votes, and Ahmet Metin Genç received 252 votes.
Since neither candidate received 576 votes, which is two-thirds of the total number of members, in the first round, a second round was held. In this round, Seçer received 456 votes, and Genç received 218 votes.
In the third round of the elections, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, who received 453 votes from Assembly Members, was elected Deputy President of the Union. Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Genç received 199 votes.
Seçer: “We will carry the flag we received from Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mayor Zeydan Karalar together”
Following the announcement of the results, Seçer stated that such a process had been experienced for the first time in the history of the TBB. He recalled that Ekrem İmamoğlu was elected President of the TBB in June 2024, but after his arrest on March 23, 2025, Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar was elected Deputy President.
Seçer stated that, barring any adverse developments, he would continue his duty as Deputy President of the TBB until June 2026, and that he would carry the flag he received from Ekrem İmamoğlu and Zeydan Karalar together with the members of the executive board.
Seçer: “TBB is at an equal distance from all mayors”
Stating that the TBB is at an equal distance from all mayors and will continue to provide fair services with a supra-political approach, Seçer emphasized that law cannot be a tool of politics and that justice should remain constant like the North Star. He said, “The unjust arrest of mayors disrupts the peace of cities.”
Seçer noted that mayors were being portrayed as “guilty” in violation of the presumption of innocence principle, and stated that arrests should be exceptional, but this has been turned into a rule.
Seçer: “Mayors are the source of morale and motivation for cities”
He expressed that mayors are not only servants of the cities but also a source of morale and motivation. Seçer emphasized the critical role of mayors in raising the morale of cities.
Seçer: “The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye is a supra-political institution”
Sending greetings and messages of solidarity to Ekrem İmamoğlu, Zeydan Karalar, Muhittin Böcek, Abdurrahman Tutdere, and other mayors, Seçer also stated, as the new Deputy President of the TBB, that he saw the TBB as a structure that embraces all mayors. Seçer continued his speech as follows:
“The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye is a supra-political institution. Today, I stand before you as the Deputy President and state that this institution sees everyone as its own mayor. As in the past, valuable work has been carried out in many areas. The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye is not merely an institution that donates tools, equipment, and vehicles. More importantly, for a mayor, there is something more valuable than money, tools, or equipment: knowledge, merit, and know-how. The TBB provides this. Very valuable meetings have been held and actions taken on how to proceed with proper and effective projects, access to international funds and financing, how to train competent staff, or how to address current problems. These efforts will continue to increase. Let there be no doubt or concern about that.”
Calling on all mayors to unite, Seçer said, “This is a call: We must initiate democratization, peace, tranquility, and reform in Türkiye from the local level.”
Following the presidential election, the TBB Executive Committee held its July meeting under the chairmanship of TBB Deputy President and Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer.