19.12.2025 16:25
During the discussions of the 2026 budget in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, CHP member Mahmut Tanal made allegations against the Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş. In response, AK Party Group Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin took the floor to reply. The mutual statements led to an increase in tension in the Assembly.
During the discussions of the 2026 Budget Law Proposal in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, a debate occurred between CHP member Mahmut Tanal and AK Party Group Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin regarding allegations against the Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MINISTER GÖKTAŞ BY TANAL
Speaking at the podium in the General Assembly, CHP Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal claimed that Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş is a Belgian citizen and that her children are receiving education in Belgium. In his speech, Tanal stated, "The minister of this country cannot send her children to study abroad. The minister of this country cannot be a Belgian citizen. Bring the records then. You are lying," he said.
RESPONSE FROM ÖZLEM ZENGİN
As tensions rose in the Assembly following Tanal's remarks, AK Party Group Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin intervened to respond to the allegations. Zengin said, "The speaker corrected his own lie. The Minister's children are studying here. Previously, she was an ambassador. She was in Algeria because she was an ambassador. Her children are here, they are serving here and studying here," she stated.
TENSE MOMENTS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
During the mutual verbal exchanges, tension escalated in the General Assembly, while the budget discussions continued after the debate.