Vefa Salman

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Salman was the CHP candidate for the Mayor of Yalova, running against the incumbent Yakup Koçal from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the local elections of 2014. Initially ahead in the count, the AKP requested a recount, after which the AKP was declared the winner by a single vote. After the CHP requested a recount in 65 ballot boxes, the district electoral council decided to hold recounts in 124 ballot boxes, after which Salman was declared the winner by 6 votes. [2] The Supreme Electoral Council subsequently cancelled the election in Yalova, rescheduling fresh elections for 1 June. Salman subsequently won the election by 228 votes over his AKP rival. [3] His campaign was actively supported by Yalova Member of Parliament Muharrem İnce, who was then a parliamentary group leader for the CHP.

Deforestation controversy

As a CHP politician, Salman came under scrutiny for authorising the deforestation of several trees in order to make way for a new bridge and road junction. This was especially due to the strong environmentalist approach that the CHP and many party supporters took during the Gezi Park protests in 2013, which had initially began due to government plans to demolish a city park in order to build a shopping mall.

In response to criticism, Salman claimed that it had pained him to take the decision, but noted that the trees were not being cut down to make way for a new shopping mall, a thermal power station or new municipal offices. Rather, it was to increase the safety of a dangerous road junction responsible for several road casualties, and that as mayor he needed to prioritise human lives over trees. [4]

On February 27, 2020, Vefa Salman was dismissed by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey, and Mustafa Tutuk was elected instead of him by the vote in the municipal council. [5]

Personal life

Salman is a fan of Fenerbahçe sports club, having served as the President of the Yalova Fenerbahçe Association for two terms. He is also a Poet, with his first book Özgünce being published in 2007. His second book was also published, and a third is currently being written. He is married to Dilek Salman, an English teacher. Their only son died in a car crash in 2012. [6]

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References

  1. "Vefa Salman Haberleri - Yazılar, Videolar ve Galeri - Habertürk".
  2. "Yalova'da CHP'li başkanın gözyaşları".
  3. "Yalova seçim sonuçları 1 Haziran". 2 June 2014.
  4. "Vefa Salman ilk kez konuştu".
  5. "Yalova Belediye Başkanı Vefa Salman görevden uzaklaştırıldı". Anadolu Agency . Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  6. "Hukuk öğrencisi kazada yaşamını yitirdi".
Vefa Salman
Mayor of Yalova
In office
1 June 2014 27 February 2020