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| İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanlığı | |
|---|---|
| Name | İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanlığı |
| Native name | İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanlığı |
| Jurisdiction | İstanbul Province |
| Formed | 1984 |
| Headquarters | İstanbul |
İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanlığı is the chief elected executive office of İstanbul Province responsible for metropolitan municipal administration, public services, and urban development across the province including central districts such as Fatih, Beyoğlu, and Kadıköy. The office interacts with national institutions such as the Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi, ministries including the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, and metropolitan agencies like İETT, İSKİ, and İBB Transportation Department. Occupants of the office have influenced major projects including the Marmaray, the Avrasya Tunnel, and the 3rd Bosphorus Bridge (now Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge), and have featured in wider political contexts involving parties such as the AKP and the Republican People's Party.
The office originated in the reorganization of municipal governance following the 1984 Metropolitan Municipality Law which reshaped local administration alongside earlier Ottoman-era institutions like the Sublime Porte and republican reforms under leaders such as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and legal frameworks tied to the Turkish Constitution. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries incumbents negotiated projects adjacent to landmarks including the Topkapı Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque, and the Galata Tower, while coordinating with infrastructure projects such as the Bosphorus Bridge and services impacting sites like Taksim Square and İstanbul Airport. Political careers of mayors have intersected with national events like the 1999 İzmit earthquake, the 2013 Gezi Park protests, and the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, shaping the evolution of municipal authority in the metropolis.
The mayoral office manages metropolitan services across districts including Üsküdar, Beşiktaş, Şişli, and Zeytinburnu and works with borough mayors from municipalities such as Kartal and Maltepe to administer transport networks like Metro Istanbul, Marmaray, and bus operations managed by İETT. Responsibilities encompass water resources with İSKİ, waste management interfacing with industrial zones like Pendik, heritage oversight affecting the Historic Areas of Istanbul, and urban planning linked to projects around Haliç and the Golden Horn. The office liaises with national agencies including the Presidency of Turkey and regulatory bodies engaged in environmental assessments and heritage conservation for sites connected to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Mayoral elections follow procedures prescribed by electoral law overseen by the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey and involve candidates representing parties such as the Nationalist Movement Party, Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey), and coalitions linked to figures like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Terms are set according to statutes established in the Turkish Constitution and electoral codes, with periodic contests coinciding with local elections that determine leadership over strategic programs including housing developments in Başakşehir and transport expansions toward Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
The mayoralty supervises departments and corporations including İSKİ, İETT, İSKİ, and cultural institutions that manage venues such as the Istanbul Modern and Süreyya Opera House. Administrative structure integrates planning offices coordinating with agencies like the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on conservation in zones near the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, and with transport authorities overseeing projects connected to Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway links. The office also interacts with international bodies such as Union of Municipalities of Turkey and city networks like United Cities and Local Governments, and engages with academic centers including Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Technical University, and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University on urban research.
Prominent occupants include figures affiliated with parties and movements spanning the Democrat Party, Motherland Party, and contemporary parties like the Republican People's Party and AKP. Mayors have included personalities whose tenures intersected with events such as the 1980 Turkish coup d'état aftermath, infrastructure milestones like the opening of Atatürk Airport and later controversies around developments in İstanbul's historic peninsula. Notable names have had careers that connected to national offices and institutions such as the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Mayoral administrations have launched large-scale initiatives: transport expansions including Marmaray and metro lines connecting Taksim to Şişli; environmental projects addressing the Sea of Marmara pollution; urban regeneration schemes in neighborhoods like Fener and Balat; and cultural programs involving partnerships with Istanbul Biennial and the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. The office has overseen disaster preparedness collaborations with AFAD and implemented housing projects responsive to seismic risk identified after the 1999 İzmit earthquake, while economic development efforts tied to port areas have involved coordination with agencies at Karaköy and Eminönü.
Controversies have touched on urban conservation controversies near Sultanahmet, disputes over large infrastructure projects such as the 3rd Bosphorus Bridge (Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge), and legal challenges involving interventions by national actors including the Council of State (Turkey) and Constitutional Court of Turkey. Criticism has arisen from civil society groups like TMMOB and environmental organizations regarding waterfront developments in Küçükçekmece and reclamation projects affecting the Golden Horn, and from protest movements exemplified by the 2013 Gezi Park protests and labor disputes involving unions such as Türk-İş and DİSK.
Category:Politics of Istanbul