Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Mehmet Harmancı, Meets with EUL Students

The mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Mehmet Harmancı, provided insights on local governments in the TRNC at a conference organized by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the European University of Lefke (EUL).

Starting his speech by emphasizing the importance of local governments, Mehmet Harmancı stated, ‘The distribution of power between the central government and local governments is very distinct. For example, in many European countries and around the world, education falls under the jurisdiction of municipalities. However, in the TRNC, municipalities and local governments have no authority over education.’

Discussing the limited access of municipalities in certain areas, Harmancı noted that municipalities also have no jurisdiction in the field of healthcare, except for limited access to elderly care services. Despite these limitations, he highlighted that the Nicosia Turkish Municipality continues to fulfill its responsibilities, particularly in this area.

Referring to urban theorist David Harvey’s book Rebel Cities, Mehmet Harmancı highlighted Harvey’s key questions: ‘What kind of city do we want, what kind of people do we want to be, what types of social relationships are we looking for, what kind of relationship do we establish with nature, and what kind of lifestyle do we desire?’

Harmancı emphasized that the ‘right to the city,’ which has become a widely discussed concept since the early 2000s, has inspired many political movements, cities, and agreements worldwide. He stated, ‘These concepts and the vision of an ideal human rights city have guided our policies and practices in Nicosia since 2014.

Discussing the fundamental principles of the right to the city, Mehmet Harmancı emphasized that cities are collective spaces that belong to all residents. He stated that regardless of status, race, religion, gender, or other differences, every individual should have access to the right to the city.”

Harmancı highlighted the importance of creating opportunities that ensure all city residents can benefit from social, political, and economic rights within fundamental principles. He stressed that it is the responsibility of local governments to guarantee access to these rights.

Emphasizing the necessity of certain conditions for cities and local governments to effectively fulfill their roles, Harmancı pointed out the importance of the rule of law and a well-developed democracy in achieving these goals.

At the end of the conference, Mehmet Harmancı answered students’ questions and took commemorative photos with them. In recognition of his participation, Prof. Dr. Ali Dayıoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at EUL, presented a plaque to the Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Mehmet Harmancı.