As the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ramps up efforts for the 2019 presidential and municipal elections, it has put the spotlight on its municipalities.

In order to increase the success of municipalities in the upcoming elections, the AK Party will meticulously examine municipalities to see if promised projects were carried out properly while also looking at debt, investments, income, city plans and the quality of services.

The ruling party has been conducting surveys to determine what the citizens demanded from mayors and to provide insight into the people's perception of the municipalities.

AK Party officials stressed that the public opinion of the mayors will be taken into consideration and the surveys are expected to play a significant role in determining their candidates for the upcoming elections.

After President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the need for rejuvenation within the party and warned against fatigue and lack of enthusiasm, some mayors of key provinces, such as Ankara and Istanbul, stepped down.

Party officials underlined that the latest replacements were made as results of the assessments and public surveys.

Following these resignations, the new mayors will reportedly leave stagnant projects and instead they will focus on projects that have been demanded by the public.

Increasing the quality of services and meeting the needs of people are of the utmost importance to the AK Party in the ongoing process of rejuvenation within the municipalities.

During the run-up to the elections, municipalities will attempt to make visible changes that will be felt by the people. Municipalities across Turkey have been taking steps to contribute to the ruling party's efforts.

Recently, Ankara's metropolitan municipality announced that public transportation will be made available 24 hours a day, while Istanbul's metropolitan municipality said it will cut the price of water.