Do you remember the last Council election you attended or even the last Council meeting? It was probably at the local school, there might have been a sausage sizzle or a car boot sale but that was pretty much it. The only reason you knew about the looming election is the fact that you got some advertising in your mail box or maybe your next door neighbour reminded you.
Well that might be Australia for you but here in Turkey these elections are a huge deal. In fact it is not unusual for thousands of people come together to support their local member and to provide power in numbers. Yesterday the Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) held a meeting in Mersin. Roads were blocked, polis were necessary, chaos reigned supreme. This meeting could be heard kilometers away with the cheering, the support and the excitement that its members and followers generated. Having already experienced a political meeting in Mersin I rightly decided to give this meeting a wide berth.
One of my sister’s in law is a member of the Council and is up for re-election on 30 March. She just posted these photos on FB. Like I said, it’s a big deal.
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janeyinmersin 
Wow. That is some support!
Last official meeting we attended was the local supermarket vs residents on their extension. Plans had already been rejected, resubmitted, passed, and they built the original. Residents had not been consulted, so supermarket arranged a meeting…….. in a cupboard, with 6 chairs and 6 cups and saucers (no biscuits).
150 angry people turned up. Extension got finished, neon signs, cafe overlooking private gardens, 24 hour deliveries amid 24 hour opening. We moved (guy who bought our house was well aware, after all, we couldn’t exactly hide it, but he didn’t care). On a visit south, I drove by. All properties now sport yacht masts (TV booster aerials) like some marina without the water, as finished construction blocked out all TV transmission signals. Wonder who footed the bill for those? Not the supermarket, I bet.
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