The mayor of Istanbul is the head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The mayor is elected popularly every five years. Nuri Aslan has served as interim mayor of Istanbul since 26 March 2025.
This article covers the Ottoman Empire to the modern day Republic of Turkey, during the Ottoman period and in the Republican era until 1930.
Ottoman Empire
During 1453–1858 In the Ottoman Empire, the duty of municipal government was the responsibility of the "Şehremini", a mayor-like leader, and local religious judges, "Kadı".
The first mayor of Istanbul after the conquest on May 29, 1453 was Hızırbey Çelebi. Until 1858, the capital of the Ottoman Empire was governed by a total of 422 kadis.
Tanzimat period (1858–1876) The idea to establish a municipality organization based on Western standards was first discussed in 1854 during the Crimean War when diplomats and journalists of allied nations came to Constantinople. Later, the parliament accepted a law for the establishment of the office of a mayor and a city council.
Salih Paşa received the first title of the new, modern Şehremini on July 13, 1858, and governed until November 4, 1858. During the Tanzimat period, 18 mayors took office.
First constitutional monarchy (1876–1908) In 1876, as First constitutional monarchy was proclaimed, Kadri Paşa was the mayor of Istanbul. During this period 10 mayors governed Istanbul.
Second constitutional monarchy (1908–1923) During the reign of Young Turks, between 1908–1918 and until the foundation of the republic, 23 mayors served in the capital.
Republic of Turkey
PortraitName Term of officePolitical partyNotes Took office Left office Time in officeGovernors as mayors (1923–1960)1Haydar Yuluğ15 April 19238 June 1924 CHPAfter the proclamation of the republic on October 29, 1923, the governor of the city was charged with the duties as deputy mayor.2Emin Erkul8 June 192412 October 19283Mühittin Üstündağ14 October 19284 December 1938With the municipality act of April 3, 1930, the title of mayor was abandoned and the governor of Istanbul province took over the duties of the mayor. The two separate councils of the province and the municipality were unified.4Lütfi Kırdar8 December 193816 October 19495 Fahrettin Kerim Gökay24 October 194926 October 1957IndependentThe two councils were reestablished on March 1, 1957–Kemal Hadımlı12 July 19575 October 1957 DPDeputy Governor of Istanbul, appointed as acting mayor.6Mümtaz Tarhan29 November 195711 May 19587Ethem Yetkiner14 May 195824 December 19588Kemal Aygün25 December 195827 May 1960Mayors during the military rule (1960–1963)9Refik Tulga27 May 196014 June 1960 Military10Şefik Erensü14 June 196024 September 1960Refik Tulga24 September 196026 February 196211Turan Ertuğ27 February 196216 March 1962(Deputy)12Kamuran Görgün18 March 196230 January 1963–Kadri İlkay30 January 196331 January 1963(Deputy)–Niyazi Akı31 January 196328 February 1963(Deputy)13Necdet Uğur28 February 19639 December 1963Elected mayors of Istanbul Municipality (1963–1980)14Haşim İşcan10 December 196311 March 1968 CHPThe municipality act of July 27, 1963, enabled the election of the mayor. The polls held on November 17, 1963, were the first regional elections to elect the mayor.–Faruk Ilgaz12 March 19686 June 1968 AP(Deputy)15Fahri Atabey8 June 19689 December 197316Ahmet İsvan14 December 197311 December 1977 CHP17Aytekin Kotil14 December 197712 September 1980Mayors during the military rule (1980–1984)18İsmail Hakki Akansel12 September 198030 August 1981 Military19Ecmel Kutay30 August 198124 March 198220Abdullah Tırtıl24 March 198226 March 1984Elected mayors of Istanbul Municipality (1984–present) 21 Bedrettin Dalan 26 March 1984 28 March 1989 ANAPOn March 8, 1984, the metropolitan municipality act was put into force and on March 23 the municipality of Greater Istanbul was established. 22 Nurettin Sözen 28 March 1989 27 March 1994 SHP 23 Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 27 March 1994 6 November 1998 RP/FP Elected in the 1994 election. Sacked after being sentenced to 10 months in jail.24Ali Müfit Gürtuna12 November 199828 March 2004 FPElected by the city council. Independent 25 Kadir Topbaş 28 March 2004 22 September 2017 AKP Re-elected twice (in 2009 and 2014). Resigned at the request of AKP and incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 26 Mevlüt Uysal 22 September 2017 17 April 2019 AKP Elected by the city council. 27 Ekrem İmamoğlu 17 April 2019 6 May 2019 CHP Elected in the March 2019 election. Election annulled by the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) on 6 May 2019.– Ali Yerlikaya 7 May 2019 27 June 2019 Independent Governor of Istanbul, appointed as acting mayor. Ekrem İmamoğlu 27 June 2019 23 March 2025 CHP Re-elected in the June 2019 re-run election and 2024 Turkish local elections.– Nuri Aslan26 March 2025IncumbentCHPElected by the city council to serve as acting mayor.
See also List of mayors of Ankara
References