From People’s Municipality to Power Municipality

19/07/2026

Local government constitutes that component of democracy closest to citizens. The duty of a mayor is to unite rather than divide, to deliver public services rather than display power, and to inspire confidence rather than create fear. The mayoral office is not the prize of a political victory, but a heavy responsibility borne toward society. 

Unfortunately, a mentality currently prevails across many Turkish municipalities where perception takes precedence over service, propaganda over transparency, and appearance over actual production. While social media posts multiply, it is rightly questioned whether services that touch the daily lives of citizens are multiplying at the same rate. 

Recent developments in the İdil District, Şırnak Province, have once again brought these debates to the fore. By order of Mayor Türkan Kayır, an administrative fine of 1,170,743 Turkish Lira was imposed on the guesthouse belonging to the Syriac Orthodox Mother of God (St Mary) Church on the grounds that it was “unlicensed.” This fine is being debated not only from a legal perspective, but also in terms of the priorities of local government, and the concepts of equality and public conscience. 

If the law is to be applied and enforced, it must be applied and enforced equally to everyone. If inspections are to be conducted, they must be carried out without exception. Every building in the same situation must be investigated with the same determination. The very legitimacy of local government begins at this exact point. Even the slightest suspicion that the law is being applied selectively is enough to shatter public trust in the municipality. 

Mayors are obliged to act in accordance with the law, not based on their personal preferences or the interests of individuals and institutions of their political choice. The prestige of public office is measured not by how harshly it exercises its power, but by how impartially and equally it applies the law. It must not be forgotten that those public offices exist to serve the public. Serving the public is not an option but a fundamental responsibility that every elected official must fulfill. 

The issue that İdil needs to discuss is not who is being penalized, but why this district is not receiving the services it deserves. Discussions should center on why young people are migrating, why production is failing to develop, why infrastructure problems remain unresolved, and why investments remain insufficient. The success of local governments is measured by services that impact the daily lives of citizens, not by the visibility generated on social media. 

One of the criticisms voiced in public opinion is that nominating candidates who are unfamiliar with the social and economic dynamics of a district negatively impacts the approach to local governance. The political responsibility for these criticisms naturally falls upon the leadership of the DEM Party, which selects the candidates. Political parties have the responsibility to select local government candidates who consider the expectations of the population and the needs of the town, district, or region. 

Local government exists to make the lives of citizens easier. Municipalities are institutions where the public good is protected, not where political calculations are executed. The authority granted by the office should not foster a management approach that tolerates no criticism but should strengthen accountability, transparency, and fair treatment. 

What needs to be discussed in İdil today should not merely be an administrative action. The real issue to be debated is the core philosophy of municipal governance prevailing in the district. Is it a service-oriented, participatory, and egalitarian administration, or one that disregards criticism and distances its priorities from the expectations of the citizens? 

This is because the greatest success in local governance is not the image projected on social media, but the satisfaction felt on the streets. It is not the slogans inside municipal buildings that matter, but the service and hope delivered to the doorsteps of the citizens. And it must not be forgotten, Ms. Türkan Kayır, that history records not only achievements but also mistakes. It writes of those who use public power with justice, as well as those whose practices spark controversy in the collective conscience of society. Public offices are temporary, but the government style left behind persists. Public offices come and go. However, cities governed fairly and cities governed poorly remain in people’s memories for many years. For this reason, the true responsibility of local administrators is to be the representative of justice, not of power. The authority granted by the people must be used for the people, not against them. 

Again, local office does not exist to serve personal ambitions. Those elected by public vote occupy those positions not to elevate their own names and status, but to serve the public that deemed them worthy of the duty.  

Remember, Ms. Türkan Kayır; history records not only the victors, but also what they leave behind in the cities they govern. İdil deserves a governance where justice and service, not power, leave a lasting mark.

The views expressed in this op-ed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of SyriacPress.