The Local Reform Initiative Association, which aims to solve the legal, financial and administrative problems of local governments, held its first event on November 30 at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Ali Emiri Efendi Cultural Center.
‘In the event organized under the name of ’Local Reform Meetings‘, a panel titled ’Administrative and Financial Autonomy in Authority Sharing between Central Administration and Local Governments' was organized. Approximately 250 people attended the panel consisting of three sessions. Murat Karayalçın, former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Social Democratic People's Party (SHP), made the opening speech.
Session One: Administrative Autonomy
In the first session of the event, Prof. Dr. Ruşen Keleş made a presentation moderated by Buğra Gökce, President of Istanbul Planning Agency. Prof. Keleş discussed the problems faced by local governments due to central government tutelage from a historical perspective.
Second Session Fiscal Autonomy
‘In the second session organized under the subtitle of ’Sustainable Municipalism', Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ergül Halisçelik shared the financial problems of local governments and suggested solutions. The session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Burhan Şenatalar, public finance expert and faculty member of Istanbul Bilgi University.
Session Three Participatory Forum
The moderator of the third session, which took place in a forum style, was Prof. Dr. Hatice Kurtuluş from Istanbul University Faculty of Political Sciences. In the session;
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulaş Bayraktar (Mersin University),
Prof. Dr. Cuma Çelik (French Institute of Anatolian Studies),
Fikret Toksöz (local government projects expert),
They presented their solution proposals on the restructuring of local governments and their current problems. Participants also expressed their views and asked questions to the speakers in this session.
Future Plans of the Local Reform Initiative
The association, chaired by Murat Karayalçın, plans to continue organizing ‘Local Reform Meetings’. The final declarations of these meetings will be shared with the public and a comprehensive ‘Local Reform Report’ will be prepared in the future.