List of mayors of Istanbul

This is a list of mayors of Istanbul, Turkey.

Ottoman Empire (1453-1923)

During 1453-1858

In the Ottoman Empire, the duty of municipal government was the responsibility of "Şehremini" (Şehir: City and Emin: Trustable Person) and local religious judges called "Kadı"

The first mayor of Istanbul after the conquest on May 29, 1453 was Hızırbey Çelebi. Until 1858, the capital of the Ottoman Empire was governed by a total of 422 kadis.

Tanzimat period 1858-1876

The idea to establish a municipality organization in a modern way was first discussed in 1854 during the Crimean War when diplomats and journalists of allied nations came to Istanbul. Later, the parliament accepted a law for the establishment of the office of a mayor (Turkish: Şehremini) and a city council.

Salih Paşa received the first title of Şehremini on July 13, 1858 and governed until November 4, 1858. During the Tanzimat period, 18 mayors took office.

First constitutional monarchy 1876-1908

In 1876, as First constitutional monarchy was proclamated, Kadri Paşa was the mayor of Istanbul. During this period 10 mayors governed Istanbul.

Second constitutional monarchy 1908-1923

During the reign of Young Turks between 1908-1918 and thenafter until the foundation of the republic, 23 mayors served in the capital.

Republic of Turkey

Governors as mayors 1923-1960

After the proclamation of the republic on October 29, 1923, the governor of the city was charged with the duties as deputy mayor. With the municipality act of April 3, 1930, the title of mayor was abandoned and the governor of Istanbul province took over the duties of the mayor. The two separate councils of the province and the municipality were unified. The two councils were reestablished on March 1, 1957.

• 1 Haydar Yulug April 15, 1923 - June 8, 1924
• 2 Emin Erkul June 8, 1924 - October 12, 1928
• 3 Muhittin Üstündağ October 14, 1928 - December 4, 1938
• 4 Lütfi Kırdar December 8, 1938 - October 16, 1949
• 5 Fahrettin Kerim Gökay October 24, 1949 - October 26, 1957
• 6 Kemal Hadımlı July 12, 1957 - October 5, 1957 - Deputy
• 7 Mümtaz Tarhan November 29, 1957 - May 11, 1958
• 8 Ethem Yetkiner May 14, 1958 - December 24, 1958
• 9 Kemal Aygün December 25, 1958 - May 27, 1960

Military rule (1960-1963)

After the coup d'etat on May 27, 1960, the military abandoned the mayor and appointed 7 officials until 1963.

• 10 Refik Tulga May 27, 1960 - June 14, 1960 - General
• 11 Şefik Erensü June 14, 1960 - September 24, 1960 General
• 12 Refik Tulga September 24, 1960 - February 26, 1962 - General
• 13 Turan Ertuğ February 27, 1962 - March 16, 1962
• 14 Kadri İlkay March 17, 1962 - December 30, 1963 - Deputy
• 15 Kamuran Görgün June 8, 1962 - June 22, 1962
• 16 Niyazi Akı January 31, 1963 - February 28, 1963 - Deputy
• 17 Necdet Uğur February 23, 1963 - December 9, 1963

Elected mayors (1963-1980)

The municipality act of July 27, 1963 enabled the election of the mayor. The polls held on November 17, 1963 were the first regional elections to elect the mayor.

• 18 Haşim İşcan December 10, 1963 - March 11, 1968
• 19 Faruk Ilgaz March 12, 1968 - June 6, 1968 - Deputy
• 20 Fahri Atabey June 8, 1968 - December 9, 1973 - AP
• 21 Ahmet İsvan December 14, 1973 - December 11, 1977 - CHP
• 22 Aytekin Kotil December 14, 1977 - September 12, 1980 - CHP

Military rule (1980-1984)

During the military rule from September 12, 1980 until 1984, mayors were assigned.

With the act of December 4, 1981, the municipality of some big cities in Turkey was reorganized to meet the changed requirements.

• 23 İsmet Hakkı Akansel September 12, 1980 - August 30, 1981 - Military General
• 24 Ecmel Kutay August 30, 1981 - March 24, 1982 - Military General
• 25 Abdullah Tırtıl March 24, 1982 - March 26, 1984 - assigned

Greater Istanbul (1984-today)

On March 8, 1984 the metropolitan municipality act was put into force and on March 23 the municipality of Greater Istanbul was established.

• 26 Bedrettin Dalan March 26, 1984 - March 28, 1989 - ANAP
• 27 Nurettin Sözen March 28, 1989 - March 27, 1994 - SHP
• 28 Recep Tayyip Erdoğan March 27, 1994 - November 6, 1998 - FP
• 29 Ali Müfit Gürtuna November 12, 1998 - April 18, 1999 - FP
• 30 Ali Müfit Gürtuna April 18, 1999 - March 28, 2004 - FP
• 31 Kadir Topbaş March 28, 2004 - today - AKP