Elections, elections, elections and a few other stories in this weeks ‘news snippets’

No Change at the Top of Local Politics

In case there are any readers out there who still haven’t found out the results of the local elections, it’s no change.

Keramettin Yılmaz was re-elected for a second term in Ölüdeniz, whilst Beh椴 Saatcı romped home for his third term as Mayor of Fethiye.

Meanwhile a Turkish woman who went out to vote in Babataş Mahallesi, returned to find the roof of the house had caught fire in her absence.

Apparently faulty electricity had caused the fire which she, and neighbours, managed to put out before the fire service arrived by emptying the water from the tank on the roof onto the burning area. 

Old but Still Going Strong

And another interesting election result.

Remember the Muhtar of Kesikkapi Mahallesi (the centre of Fethiye) who was standing for election for the 15th time and had just turned 90.

Well, Hasan Şaröz, has been re-elected and hopes to serve out his 15th term.

He first took office on 7th June 1946 – when even this writer was not yet born!

Null and Void

One final bit of election news – the vote for Mayor of Seki was announced null and void and the election there will be held again at some date within the next two months.

The initial count showed the AK Party candidate on 680 votes against 675 for his CHP rival.

Apparently a hastily organised recount threw up anomalies – ‘spoiled’ voting papers that weren’t spoiled – so with the agreement of all parties a re-election will take place.

Tour of Turkey

And Turkey’s equivalent of the Tour de France, the Presidential Cycle Race, will pass through Fethiye again this year some time between 12 and 19 April.

This will be the 45th race and they are expecting competitors from 124 countries to take part in the gruelling 1,212km race which starts in Istanbul and finishes in Alanya. 

Close Call

Finally a narrow escape this week for a Nigerian woman staying on a boat in the Marina.

She was on board cooking a meal while her 3.5 year old son rode his bike on the jetty.

She suddenly realised she couldn’t hear his voice any more, left the boat and saw him struggling in the water.

She jumped in to save him but then got into difficulties herself.

Fortunately Turkish sailors pulled both of them out, resuscitated the woman on the spot, and phoned for an ambulance for the child.

He was later released from hospital and both mother and child are fine – but a close call. 

Summer Weather

The last week has been like summer with day time temperatures over 25 degrees centigrade and clear blue skies.

The first tourists have been seen in the area walking around in shorts, sun bathing on the beaches and swimming.

Hopefully the bad weather of the last few months is now over.