The Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting of the Iskenderun City Council was held in the Iskenderun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (İTSO) Conference Hall. The General Assembly was attended by Iskenderun District Governor Muhammet Önder, Iskenderun Mayor Mehmet Dönmez, Iskenderun District Police Chief Nevzat Güneş, İTSO President Levent Hakkı Yılmaz, Yükseliş College Founder and businessman Nuri Üysen, managers of public institutions and organizations, chamber presidents, political party representatives, civil society organizations, trade union, foundation and association representatives, and members of the press.

İTSO President Levent Hakkı Yılmaz chaired the General Assembly. Wishing the General Assembly to be beneficial for Iskenderun, Yılmaz emphasized in his speech that city councils are one of the most important building blocks of participatory democracy, common sense, and collaborative governance.

Yılmaz said, “Today we have gathered to hold the 2025 elective general assembly of the City Council. The Iskenderun City Council has been an important platform that aims to contribute to the social, economic and cultural development of the city and brings together different views. I hope that this general assembly will take place in a transparent, consensual and democratic manner, with an understanding that protects the common interests of our city. I wish the new administration success.” As a result of the election, which was held with a single list at the General Assembly, Aykut Davut Öktem was elected as the President of the Iskenderun City Council. Speaking after the election, Mayor Mehmet Dönmez stated that he believes the members of the City Council Executive Board will undertake projects that will add value to İskenderun, and that they will always stand by the council and together implement projects that will be an example for Hatay and Turkey. İskenderun District Governor Muhammet Önder, in his speech, stated that city councils are important structures that contribute to the common future of the city, and expressed his belief that successful work will be done with an understanding that produces solutions to problems with common sense and accepts different opinions as a richness. Aykut Davut Öktem, elected as the chairman, emphasized unity and solidarity in his thank-you speech and provided information about the legal responsibilities of the city council. Stating that they aim to implement projects that will add value to Iskenderun with a common sense approach together with the local administration, Öktem said, “We plan to create lasting works that will leave a mark on our city under the leadership of our Mayor. I thank you for the trust you have placed in me and our executive board members in this process.”

In the General Assembly, which was held with a single list, the Iskenderun City Council Executive Board was elected as follows: Can Teymur, Cihan Akyürekoğlu, Yeşim Ugutmen, Seval Kirmit Yazar, Nesrin Okur, Dr. Fikret Gökçe, Osman Taşçı, Eren Özçelik, Hilda Cöcen Koku, Bayram Alpagül, Gülşen Sökmen, Kenan Ak, Mehmet Düşer, Ahmet Seher, Bilal Öz, Süleyman Kurtoğlu, Şehmus Beşkardeş, Ömer Osman Bilgili.