Kaymakamlar

Kaymakamlar are district-level administrative heads representing the central government in Turkey. They act as the state’s main representative in a district and coordinate the delivery of government services, public order, and development programs within their jurisdiction.

They are appointed by the Ministry of the Interior and are typically career civil servants. They are not elected. Kaymakamlar serve under the provincial governor (vali) and can be transferred between provinces or districts by the ministry as part of the central administration’s staffing decisions.

Core duties include maintaining public order and security in the district, coordinating with the police and gendarmerie, and supervising civil administration and local services. They ensure the implementation of national laws, policies, and development plans at district level, oversee state-funded projects, disaster preparedness and response, and administrative registries as part of the state apparatus.

Kaymakamlar act as liaisons between central government and local authorities, working with elected mayors and councils to align local activities with national priorities. They represent the state in official ceremonies and handle certain administrative decisions within their jurisdiction, particularly where state supervision is required.

The office operates within the framework of Turkish administrative law and kaymakamlar are accountable to the central government and the provincial governor. Their term is not fixed; they can be reassigned or removed by the interior ministry, reflecting the central-government nature of the post. The institution has its roots in the Ottoman system of district administration.