Evaluation of “New Metropolitan Municipal” Implementation in Turkish Local Government System Through a Closed Municipality

A very important regulation in the field of local governments in Turkey was implemented in 2012 with the law numbered 6360. The “new metropolitan municipal” application is now the most prominent feature of the Turkish local government system. In the scope of regulation, the metropolitan municipalities have been responsible for their whole province boundaries. Secondly, district municipalities and village administrations which are located in the metropolitan provinces are closed. Third, provincial private administrations are closed in the metropolitan provinces. Thus, the most important service contractor in metropol areas in Turkey has been the metropolitan municipalities. Approximately five years have passed (an electoral period) since this regulation was implemented in 2014 with local government elections. This time period provides us the data which is necessary for the investigation of this new metropolitan municipal regulation. In this context, the examination of the new metropolitan municipal model through a closed municipality is more tangible and measurable. Alt？noluk was selected as an example fort his study. Firstly, the theoretical infrastructure of new metropolitan municipal system in Turkey is explained in order to explain the basics of the issue. Then, interviews are made with the officials of Bal？kesir Metropolitan Municipality, Edremit Municipality and “muhtars” who are serving in Alt？noluk. In the second stage, a survey was held with the people of Alt？noluk. Finally, investments were observed which are made in Altinoluk by Bal？kesir and Edremit municipalities. As a result of these researches which are conducted with the authorities of Bal？kesir and Edremit municipalities, it is remarked that the new metropolitan municipal system brings a larger scale and high quality services to small settlements. As a result of the survey which is conducted with the people of Alt？noluk, it was seen that people are opposed to closure their municipality. In the field observations it was seen that, a wide range of investments were made by the Bal？kesir and Edremit municipalities during an election period