08.03.2025 09:51
A scandalous incident occurred at the Kadıköy Municipal Council one day before International Women's Day on March 8. Ahmet Kurtuluş, the CHP chairman of the Kadıköy Municipality Council, turned off the microphone of Elif Lale Bilgili, the only council member from the AK Party in the district, while she was speaking. In response to this situation, Bilgili reacted, and Kurtuluş said, "This can't happen. Let's take this out, throw it outside for God's sake."
In the Kadıköy Municipal Council, a discussion occurred between the 1st Vice President of the Council and the AK Party Group President due to time restrictions.
The third session of the Kadıköy Municipal Council's March meetings was held under the chairmanship of the 1st Vice President of the Council, Ahmet Kurtuluş. After the off-agenda speeches of the CHP council members, AK Party Group President Elif Lale Bilgili stated that CHP council member Süleyman Şahin, who spoke before her, made a speech claiming that "bribery has become commonplace."
"3 OF YOUR MAYORS ARE BEING TRIED FOR BRIBERY"
Bilgili said, "I agree with you regarding the normalization of bribery. First of all, take a look at your mayors. Three of your mayors are currently being tried in detention for 'manipulating a tender' and 'receiving bribes.' While there is such a situation, I condemn you for trying to create a perception as if it were the opposite while being accused of such bribery, armed terrorist organizations, and manipulating tenders."
Bilgili, who spoke about Turkey's investments in the health sector, also mentioned the work done for women on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8.
"WHY IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON MY SPEECH?"
While Bilgili was continuing her speech, the 1st Vice President of the Council, Kurtuluş, interrupted, stating that each speaker has a speaking time of five minutes.
In response, Bilgili pointed out that the previous speaker, CHP council member İpek Demirtaş, spoke for 10 minutes, asking, "Why is there a time limit on my speech? We will complete a year, and no one has been given such a time limit until now; why is it being given to me? Either my microphone is turned off, or a restriction is imposed, why? I listened to you. Did I not listen to all the criticisms directed at the government? I didn't even open my mouth. Why can't I explain what our government is doing?"
HE TURNED OFF HER MICROPHONE
Kurtuluş reminded Bilgili that her time was up and turned off her microphone. After AK Party council member Bilgili reacted to this situation, Kurtuluş requested the technical team to cut the live broadcast.
"LET'S REMOVE THIS"
Following the ensuing discussion, Kurtuluş said, "This is not acceptable. This cannot be like this. Let's remove this, throw it out, for God's sake. We have come to this point." Bilgili reacted to these words and left the hall.
The council meeting ended after the agenda items were discussed.