Murat Kurum

Murat Kurum, the mayoral candidate for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul, has unveiled his agenda, focusing on critical issues such as urban transformation and traffic problems.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday named former environment minister Murat Kurum as the ruling AK Party's candidate in Istanbul's mayoral election in March, bidding to win back control of Turkey's largest city.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday named several of his party's candidates for March's nationwide election.

The ruling party will try to recover cities lost to the opposition's Republican People's Party, or CHP, five years ago — including the country's largest city, Istanbul, and the capital, Ankara.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has officially declared that Murat Kurum, the former environment, urbanization and climate change minister, will be his Justice and Development Party's (AKP) candidate for the mayoral seat in Istanbul.

Following a voting session in the Turkish parliament, the heads of specialized commissions have been determined, with former ministers taking leadership positions in commissions relevant to their respective fields.

During the general assembly meetings, the commissions convened to select the members of the Presidential Council.

A 25 percent cap on rent hike that will expire in July will be extended, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has announced.

"The regulation will be in place until July, but we will extend it. We will protect our citizens against hikes against the above-average increases," Kurum said, adding that the market will stabilize when home supply meets demand.

In line with new safety regulations, laybys will be established for about 250,000 couriers in Istanbul, where they can rest or take a break if needed, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has announced.

Village-type houses, the production of which started after the deadly Feb. 6 twin quakes that rattled Türkiye's south, will be delivered to quake survivors during the Eid holiday in the southeastern province of Gaziantep's Nurdağı district.

These three-bedroom houses are also planned to include stables. A mosque, school and playground are also being built in the vicinity.

The Istanbul Finance Center (IFC) is an important project for the Turkish economy that will allow international funds to flow into the country, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has stated.

"The Istanbul Finance Center project will have a very important place in the future of the Turkish economy," Kurum said at a news conference at the IFC.

An old quarry in Istanbul's Kartal district has become a natural habitat with a pond that hosts fish and birds over time, with the area planned to be turned into a National Park.

Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum met with neighborhood residents at the Kartal Orhantepe neighborhood's urban transformation project meeting.