The Ataşehir Municipal Council faced an unexpected opening when Murat Güneş, who had been serving as acting mayor, was taken into custody by the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. His arrest created a need for the council to select a temporary leader to continue municipal duties until a permanent solution could be arranged.
On 2026-10-10 the council gathered in a formal session to elect an acting mayor. The meeting was called specifically to address the vacancy left by Güneş’s detention.
During the session, representatives from the CHP chose not to attend. Their absence meant that the chamber did not have the full complement of its usual members present for the election. CHP members did not participate in the proceedings.
This time, all of the valid ballots cast were in favor of Serdar Orhan.
With the opposition absent, the only name put forward for consideration was Serdar Orhan. He was presented as the candidate of the People's Alliance, which comprises the AK Party and the MHP. No other contenders were nominated, leaving Orhan as the sole option for the council members who were present.
The council proceeded to vote. The first round of balloting did not produce a result sufficient to meet the required quorum. A second round was held, and again the outcome fell short of the threshold needed to declare a winner. A third vote followed the same pattern, failing to secure the necessary support.
Undeterred by the earlier stalemate, the council moved to a fourth round of voting. This time, all of the valid ballots cast were in favor of Serdar Orhan. He received 18 votes in this round, a number that matched the total of valid votes submitted.
Once the result was announced, Orhan spoke to those assembled. He framed his election as a continuation of democratic process, noting that he had been chosen by the council members who themselves had been elected by the public. He expressed gratitude to fellow council members, to those who attended the session, and to independent colleagues who had supported the vote. Orhan emphasized that the moment had come for service, declaring that the new term would focus on delivering what residents expect rather than what they have merely waited for.
Abdullah Özdemir, who holds the position of AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman, also addressed the election. He stated that the purpose of their presence in the council was to serve the public. Özdemir asserted that, moving forward, all citizens of Ataşehir would receive equal service from the municipal administration.
With Orhan now installed as acting mayor, the council intends to carry out its duties under his leadership. The election resolved the immediate leadership gap caused by Güneş’s arrest, allowing municipal functions to continue without further delay.
As of the date of the election, 2026-10-10, Serdar Orhan holds the role of acting mayor of Ataşehir. The council’s vote, conducted with the participation of twenty members who cast valid ballots, concluded after four rounds with Orhan receiving eighteen votes. The opposition’s absence shaped the dynamics of the session, but the outcome was framed by the victorious candidate and his party leader as a step toward continued service for all residents.