The European Parliament Standing Rapporteur on Turkey, Nacho Sánchez Amor, criticized the appointment of trustees to the municipalities of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti, which were won by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in the 31 March local elections.

Sánchez Amor wrote on X: “And now it's the turn of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti, all clearly won by the DEM Party in the last local elections. Whatever the allegations, the whole system of trustees is a blatant attack on democracy by the Turkish government, usurping the will of the people, that needs a clear EU answer.”