Mayor Akgün attended the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Dr. Hasan Akgün, Mayor of Büyükçekmece, has attended the 40th session of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities online.

The 40th session of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities held every year in Strasbourg, France, was held online between 23-24 March 2021 on the KUDO platform this year due to the pandemic.

“The elected ones shouldn’t be dismissed without the court order”

The elections of the Presidents and the Vice-Presidents of the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Monitoring Committee were held. Also, a session on “Ensuring the respect of the European Charter on Local Self-Government in major crisis situations” was carried out. The European delegates expressed their reactions to Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and calling on Turkey's government to re-evaluate this decision. Another criticism from the European delegates towards Turkey was about the dismissal of the elected ones without the court order. Dutch politician was elected as the President of Congress as a result of the online voting process and taken over the seat from the Swedish politician Anders Knappe, who was in the office for the last three years. 

“It contributes to the development of the democracy”

Mayor of Büyükçekmece, Dr. Hasan Akgün, who has been a member of Turkish National Delegation for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, stated that he gained valuable experience in the Congress on conducting local democracy. He also said, “We will keep following all the Congress meetings to acquire further experience as it contributes to the development of the democracy.”

Mayor Akgün reminded that he has a friendship relation for more than 20 years with the former Congress President Anders Knappe and newly elected President Leendert Verbeek, and they have visited Büyükçekmece twice. Mayor Akgün said, “I would like to thank Anders Knappe for his services. Also, I would like to congratulate newly elected President Leendert Verbeek, and I wish him success in his new mission.”