Şehitkamil Municipality Sold 6 Billion TL in Real Estate After Mayor's Shift to AKP

Quick summary

Gaziantep Şehitkamil Municipality Mayor Umut Yılmaz has put up municipal land worth a total of 6 billion TL for sale since his transition from the CHP to the AKP. Under the latest tender, 21 properties were offered for sale at a value of 717 million TL. The opposition is reacting to a mayor who came to office through elections changing parties and then proceeding with asset sales in this context.

Why it matters

Large-scale municipal property sales in Gaziantep could affect urban development plans and the local investment environment. While sales revenues shape the municipal budget, uncertainty about the reasons behind these transactions raises questions about the credibility of local politics.

Key takeaways

• ›After Umut Yılmaz was elected in March 2024 from the CHP with 39.6 percent of the vote and then switched to the AKP, real estate sales began.
• ›In the latest tender, 21 properties (plots of land, shops, residences, and industrial areas) were put up for sale with an estimated value of 717 million 966 thousand TL.
• ›During 2014-2019, when the same municipality was under AKP administration, real estate sales on this scale did not generate controversy.
• ›Opposition is reacting to the municipal mayor changing parties immediately after the election and then selling institutional assets on this scale.