CHP Mayor appoints, then removes nephew from municipal company upon criticism

Mustafa Bozbey, mayor of the Bursa province in Turkey’s Marmara region from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has decided not to appoint his nephew from the board chair position of the municipality’s construction subsidiary upon criticisms of nepotism.

Tuesday May 07 2024 03:56 pm

Duvar English

Mayor Mustafa Bozbey of Turkey’s Marmara province of Bursa on May 7 announced that he would not appoint his nephew to the board chairman position of BURKENT, the municipality’s construction subsidiary company upon receiving backlash about the decision.

Bozbey spoke to journalist İsmail Saymaz regarding the controversial decision and said they have retracted the appointment to “curb contention.”

However, Bozbey maintained that “trusted” people should exist within these companies. “It is sad, are these young people not supposed to work?” he asked.

“Just because his last name is Bozbey should not distract from his merits,” held the Mayor, and suggested that the criticisms had ulterior motives to sabotage his legitimacy.

Nephew Furkan Bozbey on May 6 announced his appointment as executive board chair on his social media. He deleted the announcement later in the day after the nature of the appointment was brought under scrutiny.

Bozbey of the CHP won the metropolitan municipality elections, ending the 20-year ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) administration.