30.04.2025 12:52
The leader of the DEVA Party, Ali Babacan, harshly criticized both the government and the opposition regarding the earthquake and online gambling. Speaking at the New Path Group meeting, Babacan stated that the government has reopened casinos that were closed years ago on mobile phones. Referring to the AK Party-branded slot machine as a "one-armed bandit," Babacan said, "Pull the plug tonight and end this business."
Ali Babacan accused the government and municipalities of not taking the necessary precautions against earthquakes, saying, "If you can't do it, leave this job." Babacan, addressing with Cem Yılmaz's famous line, said, "If you don't know what to do, there is a plan already made. Here is the Disaster Action Plan."
Babacan stated: The government is ignoring the issue, lying on its ear; the opposition municipalities hear it, but they don't know what to do. We are faced with managers in both the central government and local administrations who have been waiting for years, not discussing solutions, and are late in producing plans and projects. It is not enough; the government and the main opposition are suddenly attacking each other while aftershocks have not yet ended. Our citizens, who live in constant fear that "my house may collapse," are unfortunately not cared for by anyone. Those trying to reach their parents in anxiety; those who panic and rush into the streets, spending the night in the cold, are of no concern to anyone. It's all about blaming each other; it's all about shifting responsibility to one another.
"MR. ERDOĞAN, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?"
Mr. Erdoğan, what are you waiting for? Mr. Erdoğan! You wanted it very much, you became the sole authority. You said, "Give me full authority, and see how things will improve." Our nation said, let's see, and gave you full authority. Now, you have no excuse to hide behind. It has been 7 years! Now tell me! Since you took full authority in 2018, what have you done to prepare for the Istanbul Earthquake? What have you been waiting for regarding urban transformation? Why do you still not have a comprehensive roadmap on this issue? Why do you insist on continuing to talk about Kanal Istanbul? Does the life of our citizens mean nothing to you? Years have passed, and only now you say, "From now on, we will devote all our energy to this issue"?
Your cabinet says, "We can fix Istanbul in 3 years." Come on, how many 3-year periods have passed, my friend? Where were you before? Did it just come to your mind now? I also ask the same question to those managing Istanbul: Since 2019, what have you done to prepare for an earthquake in Istanbul? Explain it to us. I want to address everyone in both the central government and local administrations: If you have no intention of managing the earthquake issue, then leave this job. If you have no intention of serving the citizens, if you lack the ability to take the necessary precautions for earthquakes, if you are shifting responsibility to each other, then immediately leave this job.
"YOU SAY EARTHQUAKE, THEY SAY KANAL İSTANBUL"
Do not be a burden on the back of this nation. This is a matter of the heart, a matter of the heart! The government on one side, the municipalities on the other, have come together, God forbid, intending to turn the country into a giant rubble. You say to those in power, "Brother, aren't you the government? Take precautions." No, they ignore it. You say earthquake, they say Kanal Istanbul. You say to the others, "Brother, how many municipalities do you have at your disposal? At least take precautions." They say, "The government is blocking us," and "Don't tell me, tell him." Excuses, excuses, excuses. Write this down in the corner of your mind: Yes, you are currently bickering with each other; you are polarizing the nation, dividing people; but the earthquake will not discriminate between parties.
The earthquake will not say, "This is from our party on the second floor, and that is from their party on the third floor." Therefore, I say it emphatically:
Before the rubble forces us into coordination; God forbid, before death forces us into cooperation; we must talk to each other. While we are alive, we must unite. I call on the government: Take precautions against this disaster that will leave our people under the dust and rubble. I also call on those who have many municipalities: You say we received the most votes in the last elections; if that's the case, then please, do what is necessary locally. This nation does not want to watch the clash of these two cliques that condemn people to live in dilapidated houses. The nation wants solutions.
Wait a minute! If you don't know what to do; if you are in search of what the solution is and what we can do; here you go: Remember what Cem Yılmaz said; "There is a plan already made." Here you go, there is a plan already made. Our Disaster Action Plan is ready. Come, let us explain to you. If you are wondering what we will do and where we will start, please start from here; just don't let us experience another Kocaeli, another Düzce; another Maraş. I say clearly and unequivocally: The anxiety of a single citizen who cannot reach their parents or children is far more important than your concerns about your seats. The life of a single citizen is far more important than the political future of both the government and the main opposition.
"AK PARTY LOGO GAMBLING MACHINE"
The foundations of the family institution in our country are also being shaken. While the ground is shaking and sending us warnings, each of our families is under another threat. The reason is this government that has turned every mobile phone into a gambling machine. Those in power! You cannot escape this shame by burying your head in the sand. You have laid dynamite at the base of the family institution; you have collectively revived the gambling that has disappeared in the country. Friends, put your hand on your conscience. In a country where the last casino closed 27 years ago, today people are taking their own lives because of gambling. Now I will show you a few posts I came across on social media.
Look, what does one post say: "My friend's 15-day marriage ended." Here you have Family Year: Gambling destroys marriages, shatters families. Another post: "A friend of mine went into debt because of this plague, committed suicide at 34. He left behind a 7-month-old baby." Here you have Family Year: Fathers are committing suicide. Children are becoming orphans. Another one: "Just now, my friend who went in with 700 thousand lira had his mother have a nervous breakdown." Here you have Family Year: Mothers are having nervous breakdowns for their children. A woman says: "My father lost 5 million"; "How can we save him?" I am showing only four examples. Dozens, hundreds of comments; dozens, hundreds of real-life stories. Mr. Erdoğan, will you continue to watch this tragedy from your seat?
"ONE-ARMED MONSTER"
Little children are becoming orphans! Will you continue to turn a blind eye to gambling and be complicit in this crime?
Exactly 27 years ago, look at what the newspapers said on the day the casinos would be closed: "The one-armed monster will stop tonight." They were hopeful, thinking they had escaped this plague. But no. Years later, this government rose and granted permission to its allies to play virtual gambling. Moreover, these privileges, which should be given in exchange for large fees to be paid to the state through a tender, were given by Erdoğan with a single signature for free at night. It was not enough to allow and promote legal gambling; they also turned a blind eye to the spread of illegal gambling. One of those who played virtual gambling bought a bank and obtained permission from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency. Mr. Erdoğan, do you want to see today's one-armed monster? Come, face it. Here is your creation: You will either stop this one-armed monster, or this nation will stop you. We have no time to lose, not even a single minute.
This evening, unplug this device. End this gambling addiction tonight. To those around you, I also call out: If those at the top are not hearing, it is your duty to make it known. You also have a share in this; you are responsible for this matter as well. All AK Party members of parliament and administrators cannot escape the responsibility and burden of this. You have exposed millions of our youth to this addiction, my friends. Be ashamed! Immediately tonight; we have no time until tomorrow. Unplug virtual gambling, put an end to this. When it comes to money, dollar signs appear in their eyes. If you ask where this plug is, we will show you.
"FARMER DEBT SHOULD BE POSTPONED FOR 2 YEARS"
Farmer debt should be postponed for 2 years. The natural disaster we experienced last week was not just an earthquake. Our farmers suffered great losses in the agricultural frost disaster that affected almost all of Turkey. Once again, I wish all our producers a speedy recovery. Agricultural and food security is a matter of strategic importance for our country.
The negative developments in this area are the result of poor management and negligence. It is unacceptable that, even today, an effective early warning system, a regional frost map, and a digital meteorological notification infrastructure have not been established. In agriculture, we need to transition to a structure that not only reacts to results but also anticipates risks. Both pre-disaster precautions and post-disaster process management are very important. I was in Antalya last weekend. We were together with our farmers there. We listened to their troubles. They say that this disaster has affected not just one harvest year but two years at once. From here, our call to the government:
1) Complete the damage assessment studies immediately.
2) Postpone our producers' tax, insurance, and Ziraat Bank debts for at least two years.
3) Ziraat Bank should provide new financing opportunities for our producers.
4) Extend the damage compensation period for the frost disaster in Tarsim until the end of April.
5) Immediately establish a mechanism to fairly compensate our producers' losses by the state.