25.07.2024 15:21
President Erdogan's announcement that the Ministry will collect the nearly 100 billion TL Social Security Institution (SGK) debts of municipalities has sparked a new debate in Turkish politics. Today, in response to Erdogan's challenge, CHP leader Ozel said, "We are giving you all the mosques, electricity transformers, and common areas in the municipalities. Take them and relieve us of this burden."
CHP Leader Özgür Özel criticized the ministry's action in response to President Erdoğan's instruction to collect the nearly 100 billion TL debt owed by municipalities to SGK without damaging the current HTML. Özel stated that the top 5 indebted municipalities are Bursa, Sakarya, Ordu, Balıkesir, and Denizli, which were taken from the AK Party in the March 31 elections. Özel also made a noteworthy proposal to Erdoğan, saying, "We are giving you all the mosques, electricity transformers, and common areas in the municipalities. Take them and relieve us of this burden," he said.
Speaking in Balıkesir, CHP leader Özgür Özel stated that Erdoğan wants to make CHP municipalities unable to do business. Özel also made a proposal to Erdoğan, saying, "The simit (traditional Turkish bread) used to cost 5 kuruş, but you made it 10 lira. He says the municipalities want to serve. Here is Ahmet, he can't fit in. But the financial aspect of the job bothers him. We find funding from the other side of the world, but they don't sign. Why? So that people don't see how well CHP is doing. There are piles of files in front of him, but he doesn't let them use the funds by not signing.
"THEY DID MUNICIPALITY WITH SGK MONEY"
Now there are incredible debts to SGK. They didn't pay the money on time, but they did municipality with SGK's money and still won. I will cut the unpaid money with interest at once during the AK Party-MHP period. The sole purpose of this is to tie the hands of mayors. If you think it will damage CHP, you are mistaken. The people will hold you accountable in the first election.
TOP 5 INDEBTED MUNICIPALITIES
The most indebted municipalities are the ones we took from the AK Party. Bursa, Sakarya, Ordu, Balıkesir, and Denizli. The top five indebted municipalities are the ones we took from the AKP. They are trying to cut the money they didn't pay from us. With this, they want the garbage not to be collected, and transportation to be disrupted. Whether you like it or not, we will find a way, we will win the hearts of the people. We will take that power from you. I swear.
"YOU ACCEPT IT FROM AN AK PARTY MUNICIPALITY"
I saw this in Edirne and in many municipalities we took from the AK Party. Now I saw it in Balıkesir. In the past, what did they do? They gave the mosque and the square around it and had the debt erased. When the ownership of the mosque passed from the municipality to the Ministry of Finance, there is no way they will come and demolish the mosque, empty it, and build a shopping mall there. But you accept this from an AK Party municipality in return for the debt. In that case, we are giving you all the mosques' electricity transformers and common areas in CHP municipalities. Take them and relieve us of this burden, don't hinder us from serving the people.
MASSACRE LAW AND 'BASKET' CONTROVERSY
There is certainly a problem with stray animals, but the solution is not massacre. They are trying to burden the mayors with the issue of stray animals. The danger regarding stray animals is not over. An animal rights fund should be established. Erdoğan finds retirees, minimum wage earners, and tradesmen burdensome. If you can't carry the basket, if it's burdensome, then leave it. If there is no livelihood, there will be an election."