Vahap Seçer
Vahap Seçer, Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, was born on October 5, 1963, in the Tarsus district of Mersin.
He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at Çukurova University.
As a young entrepreneur, Seçer founded his own business in 1987 and made investments in agricultural production, industry, and trade. He served as a board member and chairman in the companies he established.
Seçer has also held memberships in chambers of industry and commerce representing the business community, as well as in his professional chamber as an agricultural engineer.
In addition, he has taken part in social projects as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tarsus Güç Birliği Foundation, which he founded to support the upbringing of modern, secular, and patriotic youth.
Between 2007 and 2015, Seçer served as a Member of Parliament for Mersin from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) during the 23rd and 24th legislative terms. During this period, he was a member of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commission and the Planning and Budget Commission, contributing to significant work.
Actively engaged in developing projects addressing the challenges of his hometown, Seçer was elected Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality in the Local Administration General Elections held on March 31, 2019.
In the March 31, 2024 elections, he was re-elected with strong public support and a record vote share, continuing his service in office for a second term.
In July 2025, Seçer assumed the role of Vice President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkiye (UMT), taking on important responsibilities to expand practices in local governance based on justice, equality, and public interest across the country.
On May 2, 2026, at the Ordinary Assembly Meeting of the Union of Municipalities of Turkiye (UMT), he was elected President of the UMT.
Vahap Seçer is married, has two children, and speaks English.