New Kalkan Mayor, Saim Karakurt started work yesterday, Wednesday 8th April 2009.  Ten days earlier the Turkish residents of Kalkan had voted in elections, and cast their votes as follows:

- Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP - 41%
- Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP - 40%
- Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi, MHP  18%

However the winning margin was extremely narrow  - with only 26 votes in it, and the result has only recently been confirmed, following challenges from the outgoing AKP.

But on a sunny Kalkan afternoon the controversy of the last ten days was put to one side, as the Mayor elect, his team and some of his supporters gathered in the centre of Kalkan to celebrate their victory and formally recognise the beginning of their 5 year term in office.

The initial meeting point was at the main roundabout in town, close to the old school, and once gathered, the crowd, estimated to be in the region of 100, walked down to the Atatürk memorıal, for a brief ceremony.  Afterwards people made their way to the Belediye, where the Mayor said a few words to the assembled audience.

As well as representing the Turkish voters of Kalkan, the new administration is also happy to engage with the local non-Turkish community, to understand their perspectives on life in Kalkan.  Input and ideas from all sections of the community will be welcomed.

KTLN will bring you more on the things we can expect to see as a result of this change in local administration, particularly in so far as it may impact on the non-Turkish community.