(AGENPARL) – Fri 11 July 2025 Image
PRESS RELEASE
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref. CG046(2025)
Council of Europe Congress President calls for action to stop the purge of opposition mayors in Türkiye
“I reiterate this call and urge the Turkish authorities to abide by the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government which Türkiye ratified in 1992. During my next exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in September, I intend to discuss possible action to end this purge and to engage in dialogue with Türkiye as a Council of Europe member state in order to make sure that democratic norms and standards in this country are respected,” said President Cools. 
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.
President of the Congress: Marc Cools (Belgium, ILDG), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities: Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE), President of the Chamber of Regions: Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/PD).
Political groups: Group of Socialists, Greens and Progressive Democrats (SOC/G/PD), Group of the European Peoples Party (EPP/CCE), Independent Liberal and Democratic Group (ILDG), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR).
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