13.10.2026 23:20
A fierce debate took place between the government and the opposition in the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey over allegations of fund embezzlement. Representatives of the opposition brought up allegations that 217 people had obtained 401 billion liras in gains and demanded that the names be disclosed. AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu, however, said that everyone involved in unlawfulness would be held accountable. During the debate, the terms "thieves," "scoundrels," and "robbers" were used, while a call was made for a parliamentary inquiry.
In Parliament, the fund graft allegations turned into a fierce debate. While the opposition demanded that the identities of 217 people be disclosed and that the claim of 401 billion lira in profits be investigated, the AK Party argued that those involved in unlawfulness were not protected.
"WHO ARE THE 217 PEOPLE, WHY ARE YOU HIDING THEM?"
Speaking in the debate in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, New Party Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir demanded that the identities of those alleged to have profited from fund transactions be disclosed. Emir argued that despite 25 days having passed, they had not received answers to their questions, and said: "These two hundred and seventeen privileged investors—'investors' in quotation marks, in reality thieves. Who are they? Why are you hiding them? How many billion lira did they earn?" Emir also demanded disclosure of whether the money in question was taken abroad. Recalling the investigations into opposition municipalities, Emir accused the government of engaging in different practices.
RESPONSE FROM AK PARTY: WE DO NOT STAND BEHIND ANY THEFT
AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu responded harshly to the opposition's criticism. Akbaşoğlu stated that everyone involved in unlawfulness, regardless of whether they are from the government or the opposition, must account for their actions, and used the following expressions: "We do not stand behind any theft or shamelessness." Also criticizing the opposition's attitude in the investigations into municipalities, Akbaşoğlu recalled the accusations regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
"WHO ARE THESE SCOUNDRELS? WHO ARE THESE ROBBERS?"
Good Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez, however, carried the debate to the claim of 401 billion lira in profits. Çömez referred to a prosecutor's letter dated August 19, 2026, and alleged that some people had obtained advance information and made unjust profits. In a statement he attributed to the Minister of Justice, Çömez claimed that 401 billion lira in profits had been obtained in 16 days, and used harsh expressions: "Who are these scoundrels? Who are these people who receive this intelligence, receive this information, and covet the nation's hard-earned money? Who are these robbers? Who are these profiteers?"
TWO SEPARATE COMMITTEE PROPOSALS IN PARLIAMENT
New Path Group Deputy Chairman Bülent Kaya said the debate should not be limited to mutual accusations. Kaya proposed establishing two separate parliamentary committees to investigate both the corruption allegations in municipalities and the fund transactions. Addressing all political parties, Kaya made the following call: "Are you up for investigating all corruption? Or will you just pay lip service to it?"
CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY FROM CHP AND DEM PARTY
CHP Group Deputy Chairman Serkan Sarı also asked why the list of people alleged to be linked to the fund transactions had not been disclosed. Sarı argued that the government and the opposition were treated differently in the investigations and called for transparency.
DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Sezai Temelli, however, stated that the issue could not be resolved through mutual polemics. Temelli called for the establishment of parliamentary inquiry committees and for the reconsideration of the bill related to the issue.