17.12.2025 00:55
In the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, responding to the expression "site chief" used by the Deputy Group Chair of the DEM Party, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, stated, "By calling it a site chief, the work is being belittled. If being a site chief means revitalizing 11 provinces and rebuilding the earthquake-affected region, then it is a great honor for us to do this. I am the site chief of the earthquake region."
In the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum responded to the "site chief" expression used by DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit during the budget discussions of his ministry, emphasizing that the work in the earthquake zone is a source of pride.
"IT IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR US"
Minister Kurum replied to Koçyiğit’s criticisms: "By calling it a site chief, she diminishes the work done in her own way. If bringing 11 provinces back to life and finishing the earthquake zone is site chief work, then being a site chief is a great pride for us. I am the site chief of the earthquake zone."
Kurum also suggested witnessing the work by going to the earthquake zone, reminding that the state has been there from the first hour. In response to claims that "the state was not there on the 15th day," he stated, "Under the leadership of our President, we rushed to our 11 provinces. We finished. We completed 455,000 houses with our heads held high." Minister Kurum said, "I hope one day you will go to the earthquake zone and share in this pride of our country. By calling it a 'site chief,' she diminishes the work done in her own way. If bringing 11 provinces back to life and finishing the earthquake zone is site chief work, then being a site chief is a great pride for us. I am the site chief of the earthquake zone. You say, 'the state was not there on the 15th day.' The state was there. We were there from the first hour. Under the leadership of our President, we rushed to our 11 provinces. You rubbed your hands together, saying, 'Now they are finished. They will be under the rubble, they cannot do it, they cannot finish.' We finished. We completed 455,000 houses with our heads held high. If it were left to you, our 11 provinces and our citizens in those provinces would still be under the rubble."
TRANSPARENCY IN TENDERS IN THE EARTHQUAKE ZONE
Minister Kurum also shared the following regarding the tenders held in the earthquake zone:
"All tenders are conducted in accordance with the current regulations, in line with the principles of competition and transparency. E-tenders shared with the press and media are awarded to firms that provide the most economically and technically suitable offers. To date, over 300 different firms have won tenders. We leave the work in the disaster area not to chance, but to the experts. We will never allow a single penny of the nation to be wasted."
BUDGET PASSED IN THE ASSEMBLY
The 2026 budget of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change was presented for a vote after discussions and was accepted.
After the budget was accepted, Minister Kurum published a message stating that they will continue to build the strong cities of a strong Turkey with firm steps. Kurum said, "The 2026 budget of our ministry has been accepted in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly."
I would like to thank our Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Celal Adan, and all the valuable members of parliament and my esteemed colleagues who contributed to our budget work.
I wish our 2026 budget to be beneficial for our country and our nation.
Under the leadership of our President, Mr. @rterdogan, we will continue to build the strong cities of a strong Turkey with firm steps; we will implement our climate policies decisively for a more livable future with our 2053 Net Zero Emission Target and Zero Waste vision."