31.01.2026 16:00
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum criticized CHP leader Özgür Özel during his speech at the "Homeowner Turkey" Lottery Draw Ceremony in Samsun. Minister Kurum stated, "When it comes to the earthquake zone, 455 thousand housing units is a project that even Özgür Bey's imagination cannot reach. He can't even make a model of it. He is unsettling our citizens by saying they are having them sign blank promissory notes. You know well about the promissory note business, Özgür Bey!"
The "500 Thousand Social Housing / Homeowner Turkey Lottery Draw Ceremony" was held at the Ömer Halisdemir Multi-Purpose Hall of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum criticized CHP Chairman Özgür Özel in his speech at the ceremony.
"WE HAVE BROUGHT MORE THAN 15 THOUSAND HOUSES TO SAMSUN" Minister Kurum provided information about investments in Samsun, stating, "So far, we have made an investment of approximately 66 billion liras in Samsun through our TOKİ. We have brought more than 15 thousand houses to our city. We have opened new living spaces in our city with 3 national gardens in a vast area. God willing, we will put our Bafra National Garden into service very soon. But of course, we are not stopping. Just like in all 81 provinces, we are drawing lots today for our 6,397 houses that we will bring to our city with the Century's Housing Project that excites you. We will build 3,750 of these houses in central Samsun, 150 in Alaçam, 100 in Asarcık, 120 in Ayvacık, 500 in Bafra, 300 in Çarşamba, 140 in Havza, 150 in Kavak, 142 in Ladik, 125 in 19 Mayıs, 120 in Salıpazarı, 300 in Terme, 450 in Vezirköprü, and 50 in Yakakent. I want to emphasize that our houses will be built with a fair and balanced planning that covers all districts of our city. In other words, we are producing housing for everyone, from the center of Samsun to its farthest district. Moreover, we are not just satisfied with housing. Inspired by our past, we are also rebuilding social life with 500 neighborhood houses that foster neighborliness and strengthen solidarity. In line with our goal of 'Homeowner Turkey', with God's permission, we are not leaving any of our citizens behind," he said.
"ON FEBRUARY 6, WE EXPERIENCED THE GREATEST DISASTER IN WORLD AND REPUBLIC HISTORY" Minister Kurum continued: "The enthusiasm that fills this hall, the hope in your eyes, the joy in your hearts; clearly shows us this: When our nation believes and trusts its state, no goal is unattainable. This moment we are experiencing here is not just the excitement of a lottery draw; it is a historic meeting where we all witness the labor, patience, and determination of years. Because Turkey is a country that emerges stronger from every test and difficulty it faces.
In recent years, our country has been tested by many disasters, from floods to fires, from epidemics to earthquakes. But thank God, we have never left our nation helpless and alone in any disaster. The earthquake disaster recorded as the 'Disaster of the Century' on February 6, 2023, unfortunately shook 11 of our provinces with deep pain. 14 million of our people were directly affected, and 86 of our people were indirectly affected by this disaster. Frankly, we experienced one of the greatest disasters in world and republic history. As a nation, we suffered deep wounds, but we never fell into despair, we never lost hope, and we bandaged our wounds together with our nation through 'The Solidarity of the Century'. And we initiated the 'Construction of the Century' process with a speed and method that no other country in the world has experienced. With this great mobilization, we not only healed our wounds; we also showed the whole world once again how strong we are as a nation. With 200 thousand architects, engineers, and workers; we worked 24/7 without rest to reunite our disaster-affected brothers with their warm homes as soon as possible.
"WE PRODUCED 23 HOUSES PER HOUR AND 550 HOUSES PER DAY AT RECORD SPEED" We produced 23 houses per hour and 550 houses per day at record speed. And with the presence of our President, we proudly and honorably gifted exactly 455 thousand 357 new homes to our earthquake-affected brothers with epic determination in Hatay. Building this many houses simultaneously in 11 provinces, reconstructing an area the size of a European country is a task that no other country outside of Turkey can handle. Thank God, under the leadership of our President, we fulfilled every promise we made with our heads held high. Today, millions of our citizens in the earthquake zone are opening the door to their homes and workplaces by saying 'Bismillah'. Look, while we were doing these works, we did not only build houses and workplaces. We built a city, a life, a hope, a future with parks, city squares, national gardens, schools, mosques, and infrastructure. That is why we say: The Construction of the Century is Turkey's Success."
"ÖZGÜR ÖZEL CAN'T EVEN MAKE A MODEL" In his speech, Minister Kurum responded to the criticisms of CHP Leader Özel, saying:
"The AK Party, under the leadership of our President for 24 years; is the name of those who keep their promises, not those who forget them. While we worked day and night to deliver 455 thousand houses in the earthquake zone, while we initiated the mobilization for 500 thousand social houses, unfortunately, the opposition remained in the same place: They produced words, created perceptions, and tried to obstruct. They did not put a stone on top of another, they only slandered what was done. And that opposition, not only did they not hammer a nail in the earthquake zone, but now they are ignoring the efforts of our 200 thousand workers, criticizing me and my government through earthquake houses and urban transformation.
I openly ask Özgür Özel from here; who is against urban transformation? Who disregards the safety of our citizens for the sake of politics by calling urban transformation a rent transformation? Aren't you the ones trying to obstruct urban transformation in Hatay, Istanbul, Esenler, and Beykoz? Ask the mayors, which one has said we will do urban transformation and we have obstructed it? Just name one! We ask questions, they misunderstand, we give answers, they don't like it. They just distort. When it comes to the earthquake zone, the 455 thousand houses are a project that even Özgür Bey's imagination cannot reach. He can't even make a model.
"YOU KNOW ABOUT CHECKS AND PROMISSORY NOTES WELL, MR. ÖZGÜR!" He thought that the houses in our 11 provinces would never end.
Citizens panicked when they handed over the keys. They were at a loss about what to do. Now they are trying to confuse our nation with unbelievable words, saying they are making our citizens uneasy by having them sign blank promissory notes. You know well about the check and promissory note business, Mr. Özgür! You also know well about baklava boxes! Our nation knows us well from İzmir, Elazığ, Bozkurt, and our services in Manavgat. We do not engage in any work that is not for the benefit of our nation. We do not put our people in a difficult position. It will be the same in these 11 provinces. Our houses will be offered to our citizens under suitable conditions, without burdening them, at a fixed price and without interest. My advice to you is: Don't get into these matters! These waters are not your waters, this field is not your field, project work is not your job. They say a sentence is enough for the one who understands, but a thousand words are not enough for the one who does not. Let them understand whatever they want, whatever they say, we will continue to win the hearts of our nation, to produce works for our country, to work, and to increase prosperity, just as we have until now.
Attending the program were Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı, AK Party Samsun Members of Parliament Mehmet Muş, Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz, Çiğdem Karaaslan, Orhan Kırcalı, Ersan Aksu, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Halit Doğan, district governors, mayors, provincial heads of political parties, and citizens.
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