In a significant political development, Ekrem Imamoglu secured a second term as Istanbul's mayor in April 2024, winning by a substantial margin of nearly 12 percentage points. This victory has solidified Imamoglu's position as a formidable challenger to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The municipal elections in March 2024 marked a turning point for Turkey's opposition, led by the Republican People's Party (CHP). The CHP achieved its most decisive victory over the AKP in decades, with a notable increase in women executives elected to lead provinces and districts across the country.
Among these newly elected women, Sinem Dedetas stands out as a potential key player in Turkey's political future. Dedetas, a 43-year-old engineer, made history by becoming the first woman to win the mayorship of Uskudar, a conservative district in Istanbul known for its historical mosques and strategic location as a major transportation hub.
Dedetas's journey to political prominence began with her move to Uskudar in 1999 for her university studies. Her career has been marked by several groundbreaking achievements, including becoming the first chairwoman of the Turkish Chamber of Naval Engineers in 2014 and the first woman to manage Istanbul's maritime public transportation system in 2019.
During her campaign for Uskudar's mayorship, Dedetas focused on practical issues affecting residents' daily lives. She promised to prioritize women's employment, create child nurseries in every neighborhood, and expand welfare initiatives such as municipally subsidized cafeterias. Her pragmatic approach and emphasis on empathy resonated with voters, leading to her victory over the long-standing AKP incumbent.
"Uskudar is the first gate for people who arrive from Anatolia, and for Istanbul, it is the gate to the rest of the country. We will work tirelessly to make it a model district that serves all its residents equally and efficiently."
Dedetas's success is part of a broader trend in Turkey's recent elections. The number of women mayors across the country tripled, with 11 provinces and 64 municipalities now governed by women, mostly representing opposition parties. This increase in female political representation is seen as a positive change after years of perceived backsliding on women's rights under Erdogan's leadership.
Since taking office, Dedetas has initiated several programs to address local needs, including grocery subsidies for retired residents and free shuttle services for the elderly to food markets. She has also taken steps to promote transparency by broadcasting municipal council meetings live online.
The new mayor's efforts have already made an impact on local issues. For instance, she has promised to protect Uskudar's Validebag Grove, one of Istanbul's last wild green spaces, from development plans. This decision has been welcomed by local activists who have long fought to preserve the area's 400-year-old trees and migratory bird habitats.
As Turkey looks ahead to the 2028 presidential election, which is expected to be the first without Erdogan in nearly three decades, Dedetas's role in the opposition's strategy is likely to grow. Her success in flipping a conservative district and her alignment with Imamoglu's policies position her as a potential successor to his role in Istanbul, should he run for the presidency.
The rise of Sinem Dedetas and other women in Turkish local politics represents a significant shift in the country's political landscape. As they continue to implement progressive policies and challenge the status quo, their impact on Turkey's future remains to be seen.