On Monday 18 May, the spokesman for the European External Action Service denounced the suspension of five mayors in south-east Turkey, who were replaced by trustees.
“Decisions and actions taken by the Turkish authorities against municipalities with mayors from opposition parties remain of deep concern, in particular when they appear to be politically motivated”, he said in a statement.
Since August 2019, 45 mayors have been removed from office in the south-east of the country. Hundreds...