Examining the relationships between metropolitan municipalities and mukhtar through the Head Offices of Mukhtars: The example of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality

The metropolitan administration system in Turkey underwent considerable changes and transformations with the adoption of Law No. 6360 in 2012 and its implementation following the 30 March 2014 local elections. With the passing of the law, the number of metropolitan cities increased to 30. The administrative boundaries of all metropolitan municipalities were extended to the provincial boundaries. In metropolitan cities, the legal entities of all village and town municipalities were abolished and transformed into neighborhoods. With the adoption of the "Rural Neighborhood and Rural Settled Area Regulation" in 2021, the units that were transformed from villages to neighborhoods were designated as rural neighborhoods or rural settled areas. All of these changes necessitated a reorganization of the relationships between metropolitan cities and mukhtars. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the problems and demands of the units that have transformed into neighborhoods, particularly from villages and towns, and how they communicate these demands to the metropolitan municipalities through the head offices of mukhtars established within the metropolitan municipalities. In this regard, meetings were held with the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Head offices of Muhktars. Moreover. The findings of the thesis reveal that abolishing the legal entities of the villages is generally considered negative. As a result of the expansion of the service area of the metropolitan municipality, problems have arisen, particularly in the neighborhoods far from the center. In addition, the Head Office of Mukhtars receives significantly more demands from rural neighborhoods than from other central neighborhoods. There are service delays owing to stock issues. On the other hand, the support provided by the metropolitan municipality for agriculture and animals to improve rural areas has received much positive feedback.