The 'diamond' debate that raised tensions in the Parliament.

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) General Assembly convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Gülizar Biçer Karaca to discuss the 'Draft Law on Amendments to the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law and Other Laws'. A debate over 'diamonds' erupted among the deputies of the AK Party, CHP, and İYİ Party.

ÇÖMEZ: WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU THAT YOU FELL INTO SUCH LUXURY AND SPLENDOR?

Speaking during the section where group vice presidents took the floor, İYİ Party Group Vice President Turhan Çömez said, "Of course, when I say 'diamond', I will tell you something else. In this country, no VAT is paid on diamonds; when diamonds come in their raw form, neither VAT nor KDV is paid. For God's sake, look, there is VAT on kitchen gas; in a country where VAT and ÖTV are taken from the kitchen gas of people who will boil their soup, brew their tea, you do not pay VAT on diamonds and you make agreements with diamond companies. For God's sake, what happened to you that you fell into such luxury and splendor? What happened that you became so distant from the realities of society? You declared this year as the 'Year of Family'. You declared last year as the 'Year of Retirees' and we saw the result, we saw the state of retirees. You declared the 'Year of Family', so what happened? In 2024, the divorce rates have increased by 15% compared to the previous year. There has been an incredible increase in divorce rates from 2002 to 2024. There is an incredible decrease in fertility rates related to childbirth. There is only one foundation for this, only one reason. You have devastated the social fabric, you have condemned this country to hunger and misery. Unfortunately, these people have become incapable of establishing a home, they have become unable to take care of their children, and unfortunately, divorces have increased, and fertility has decreased. You say: 'We declare the Year of Family, and for this, we are giving our employees diamonds. Let your solitaire diamond be from us.' I say shame on you. I ask how you have come to this point," he expressed.

BAŞARIR: IF ANYONE CAN DO IT, IT'S THE AK PARTY

CHP Group Vice President Ali Mahir Başarır reminded that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared 2025 as the 'Year of Family', saying, "The first fruit of this was harvested by the Justice and Development Party Group, which made a very important contract. A contract was made for retirees, workers, youth, and women that will affect millions, the Ministry of Family and Social Services made a 10% discount contract with a diamond company for its personnel. If anyone can do it, it's the AK Party; this is truly commendable, this is great news, I congratulate them. Because the concern of millions in this country, of workers, of farmers is diamonds. Wonderful, if anyone can do it, it's the AK Party. But let me say one more thing; today in Ankara, a 200-gram loaf of bread has become 12.5 lira. Well, you just took some of the 14,469 lira you gave to the retiree from their pocket, from their bread, in the very first month of the new year. A retiree who eats 4 loaves of bread a day will spend 11% of their salary on dry bread. Friends, let’s come to our senses a bit. Look, I generally do not bring materials or items to the Assembly, but I brought this. Here is 14,469 lira, it looks very thick, let people see the value of our money, look. I am telling the Deputy Group President, I am telling the Deputy Group President of the İYİ Party, I am telling the Deputy Group President of the Nationalist Movement Party that I trust their conscience, I am telling the Felicity Party: For God's sake, let the six of us sit around a round table in the first break and talk about how a family can live on this money, please. I think, if they live in Ankara, this money you see has already gone to rent, it covers the rent, okay, the retiree has a house; should they buy bread, pay for electricity, water, natural gas, pay for the apartment fee, go to the market, what should they do? Friends, a little conscience, really a little conscience," he said.

AKBAŞOĞLU: THERE IS NO SPECIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY AND THE COMPANY

AK Party Group Vice President Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu, in response to the statements of İYİ Party Group Vice President Turhan Çömez and CHP Group Vice President Ali Mahir Başarır, said, "Here, despite the fact that statements are made with a discourse of hatred and resentment, and an approach that turns envy into hate speech, we witness that a distorted approach is persistently exhibited regarding this issue, which is not befitting the dignity of the Assembly. It is presented as if a contract or agreement has been made with the diamond company. Look, with a press release, the ministry can unilaterally inform that each company has organized certain campaigns regarding the employees working there, and can request that these be announced to the personnel. When the New Year comes, all companies make such unilateral notifications to the Assembly, institutions, companies, and individuals. However, despite the press release stating that there is no special agreement between the mentioned company and the Ministry of Family and Social Services, presenting this as if it were true is an insult to the truth and an assassination of reputation, and we absolutely reject this. We have witnessed many examples of this. We have all seen how the statement of the Presidency of Religious Affairs from 12 years ago regarding the prevention of bread waste was turned into a completely different point without any context and how unfounded accusations and lies were made against it. The press release of the Presidency of Religious Affairs is here, and if you are looking for the truth, an apology should be made for these," he said.

BAŞARIR: YOU HAVE A SYMPATHY FOR DIAMONDS

In response to AK Party's Akbaşoğlu's statements, CHP Group Vice President Ali Mahir Başarır took the floor, saying, "Of course, first of all, I apologize, you are right, we only knew that the Ministry of Family and Social Services made a diamond contract, all ministries have done it, the Deputy Group President confessed," while AK Party Group Vice President Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu replied, "Look, this is a distortion, a blatant distortion. If you cannot prove this statement, you are a slanderer. If I said such a thing, I will resign; if I did not say it, will you resign? I challenge everyone, I challenge everyone," he responded. Başarır, upon these words, said, "But I cannot complete, he said, 'All ministries make such contracts with institutions and companies.'"

I'm asking, he said, 'It's one-sided,' yes, okay. Why doesn't he do it with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Izmir Municipality, the Ankara Municipality, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the Republican People's Party Headquarters? I'm asking. Because they have an allergy to diamonds, you have a sympathy for it; let me tell you that. Three: Hey, where did you come from when the diamond issue was being discussed? Do you have to divert every issue to the Diyanet, religion, and beliefs? I'm telling you, 'Corruption is happening,' you say, 'God.' I'm telling you, 'Theft is happening, injustice is happening,' you say, 'My Lord.' Well, God is for all of us; now take your hands off this religion, take your hands off the Diyanet. Was the Diyanet discussed here? Was the Diyanet discussed here?" he evaluated.

ÇÖMEZ: WILL YOU SELL JUSTICE WITH DIAMONDS?

İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Çömez, in response to AK Party member Akbaşoğlu, said, "Mr. Akbaşoğlu, you said, 'The Ministry of Family has no knowledge of this issue. What can we do, they went and did it.' In the meantime, I spoke with the Minister of Family, he called me and said, 'Yes, they came, they spoke with our Ministry's support services and left such a document, but I have no approval, I have no knowledge.' Therefore, he confirmed that he was not aware, but these diamond dealers came to the Ministry's support services. But it’s not over yet, for God's sake, what is this doing on the Justice Ministry's website? You say, 'What can we do? We have no knowledge.' Well, a diamond agreement has been made with this company, it is on the official website of the Justice Ministry. You have destroyed justice in this country, you have destroyed the law, are you going to sell justice with diamonds? It’s not over yet, be patient. Are you going to sell justice in this country with diamonds? If the minister's approval is not there, what is a diamond agreement doing on the ministry's official website? Have you come to the point of selling justice in this country with diamonds? While this nation is hungry and miserable, how can you advertise the sale of diamonds with a 10% discount to your ministry's personnel, diamonds without VAT? It’s not over; the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, here you go, on your ministry's official website; you have made a diamond agreement, it is shameful. While people in this country live in hunger and misery, while they collect their alimonies from the streets, containers, and trash bins, your ministries are advertising diamonds, advertising diamonds to their own personnel. It’s not over, it’s not over yet, let me say another thing. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is advertising solitaire diamonds, saying, 'My employees can buy solitaire diamonds.' They are advertising diamonds in a country where the people are hungry and miserable. The Presidency of Religious Affairs is an institution established by Atatürk in this country, why should we oppose it? It is a crown jewel, but just like every institution, you have brought it down, and that’s why I object," he expressed.

AKBAŞOĞLU: ALİ MAHİR BEY HAS DISTORTED MY WORDS

While discussions continued in the General Assembly, AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu, speaking, said, "Look, there is an agreement with the Bar Association, there is an agreement with all companies, but what did you say? Look, I said earlier, what was said, 'A special agreement was made with the Ministry of Family and Social Services,' but the statement is clear, there is no special agreement. Here, both to subject our Minister to an assassination of reputation, and in our relations with Somalia, the Oruç Reis is conducting Turkey's most important research there, being a pioneer in projects that will benefit both Turkey and Somalia. I expressed that I have difficulty understanding the reason for your discomfort with this situation, regarding a country with which we will establish a space station. Passports are not being sold. Look, this is an accusation against our Ministry of Interior. Passports are not being sold; they can be issued to the relevant parties in accordance with the regulations. Therefore, by entering each event from one point, completely distorting the events and channeling them in another direction to carry out an assassination of reputation is unbecoming of any member of parliament, and I say that I always stand behind my words, but as I expressed yesterday, my words regarding retirement should not be distorted by anyone. Ali Mahir Bey has also distorted my words a little while ago," he said.

BAŞARIR: GET UP, APOLOGIZE

After AK Party member Akbaşoğlu, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır took the floor, saying, "Why should I distort his words? But if he talks a little more about retirement, workers, and diamonds, my Lord will distort him. Now, look, he says, 'Bar Association,' 'Bar Association.' First of all, lawyers issue receipts; any company can do it, bar associations can do it, the Turkish Medical Association can do it, but we are talking about the Ministry. You denied it, Mr. Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez showed the writing on the Justice Ministry's page, here it is; come on, get up and apologize, get up and apologize. Here, look, please; apologize, say, 'Oh, we made a mistake.' Because you have so many mistakes that you can’t count them, you would actually enter the Guinness Book of Records from there. Now, is it so hard to apologize? Just say, 'It shouldn’t have happened.' If our friends in the municipalities had done such a thing, I would honestly apologize, I would apologize. Now, regarding diamonds, these ministers and ministries have failed, they have embarrassed themselves, they should apologize for this. Secondly, I am curious about which issue you entered the Guinness Book of Records for. But you are entering one issue: You are the only politician in the world who defends such a leader by shouting so much, Mr. Akbaşoğlu," he said.