On Local Governments Ombudsman in Turkey: A Comparative Analysis with the Local Governments Ombudsman in Uk and Italy

Abstract

Objective: The Ombudsman is essentially an independent, national-level institution that operates in response to complaints from citizens in order to steer public administrations away from bad administrative practices and behavior. However, it is impossible for an ombudsman with such a broad mandate at the national level to deal with all administrative complaints within the state. Therefore, in order to get more efficiency from the national Ombudsman, it has been divided into different sub-types. Theoretical Framework: One of these is the Ombudsman for local governmentrs, which deals only with complaints from local administrations. Although there is a national ombudsman in Turkey, there is no ombudsman specialized in local governments. Method: This study aims to make some suggestions for the Ombudsman for local governments envisaged to be established in Turkey in the future by analyzing the local governments ombudsman offices in the UK and Italy in terms of their structural-institutional and functional aspects. In this context, the study, with a comparative approach, provides suggestions for the basic aspects, qualities and characteristics of the Turkish local government ombudsman and, thus, for its structural-institutional and functional aspects. The method of the research is literature review. Results and Discussion: According to the results of this research; Establishing an ombudsman for local governments in Turkey by law, cooperating with other ombudsmen in the vicinity, examining and correcting the mismanagement and bad behavior of local governments upon public demand, ensuring easy and cheap access, fulfilling their duties, and quickly and systematically addressing the faults of local governments. Warning, making suggestions, preparing reports and then reporting the situation to local decision-making boards and the public will be effective in providing public services more effectively and efficiently and strengthening local democracy. Originality/value: In the study, original suggestions are made for local government ombudsman in Turkey, based on the examples of UK and Italy.