10.12.2025 16:36
The official vehicle purchased for Çorum Mayor Halil İbrahim Aşgın, reportedly costing over 5 million TL, has caused a crisis. Tuncay Yılmaz from the CHP, who demanded that the amount be openly shared with the public, stated, "You came by bus and made a show. You said, 'I am coming in my own car,' and had news coverage. Isn't it the public's right to know the figure?"
The Çorum Municipality decided to sell the "2014 model Audi A6 vehicle, which has reached 300 thousand kilometers and has started to cause problems from time to time." In its place, a 2025 model Audi A6 vehicle with 5 thousand kilometers was purchased. This move by the municipality was brought up at the December meeting of the Çorum Municipal Council.
During the meeting, CHP Municipal Council Group Deputy Chairman Tuncay Yılmaz asked about the cost of the official vehicle. Yılmaz's questions led to a brief tension during the meeting.
"DID WE BUY AN AUDI A6 OFFICIAL VEHICLE?" Speaking out of turn at the meeting, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Yılmaz stated that they have occasionally voiced criticisms regarding the official vehicles in the municipality, and said:
"We talked about the abundance of official vehicles. The president had an Audi brand official vehicle. We haven't seen this vehicle recently. Has there been a change in your official vehicles? Was this vehicle sold to the company? If it was sold, what were the conditions of the sale? How much was it sold for? In its place, did we buy a new or second-hand Audi Quattro A6 official vehicle? If we did, was it paid from the municipality's budget or from the company? What is the amount? Or did it come as a donation? If so, who donated it? Why did they donate it? We have our TOGG, we have our Volkswagen. We already have a Mercedes brand vehicle that we received as a donation, and we also have this minibus. Has an Audi brand vehicle been purchased for the office? We want this to be shared with the public."
CHP Municipal Council Group Deputy Chairman Tuncay Yılmaz "WE TRADED IN THE OLD OFFICIAL VEHICLE AND BOUGHT A VEHICLE WITH THE SAME FEATURES" Municipal Vice President Lemzi Çöplü responded by stating:
"There was a 2014 model Audi vehicle used as an official vehicle. It was over 300 thousand kilometers. In our out-of-town programs, this vehicle is used, and in in-town programs, TOGG is used. Depending on the number of guests, our other vehicles are also used. Here, a vehicle with 300 thousand kilometers was causing problems during your out-of-town travels from time to time. Some work was done regarding repairs, but unfortunately, it did not provide sufficient performance. We traded in this vehicle as a second-hand and bought a second-hand 2025 model vehicle with 5 thousand kilometers that has the same brand and features. The prices are available. Currently, second-hand prices are known in the market."
Çorum Mayor Halil İbrahim Aşgın "WE GOT STRANDED WITH THE OLD VEHICLE" Çorum Mayor Halil İbrahim Aşgın addressed Yılmaz, saying, "They will show you the invoices, Mr. Tuncay. There is no need to make it a polemic issue. Therefore, the A6 is the same A6. The 2014 model is over 300 thousand, and a few friends who traveled with me witnessed that we got stranded in Kırıkkale. Photos were also taken of the vehicle. I will allocate the Mercedes to you, Mr. Tuncay. You said what you had to say, and a response was given. It was said that it was the same price, but with the same features. Mr. Tuncay wants to create a polemic; we understood his concern," he said.
"YOU CAME BY BUS AND PUT ON A SHOW" Yılmaz took the floor once again and stated:
"How much money has come out of the company's cash? You came by bus and put on a show. You said, 'I am coming with my own car,' and made news with the journalists. You made them say 'the people's mayor,' and made news. Isn't it the right of the people of Çorum to know the figures? Mr. Lemzi is not giving figures; he says, 'we bought with the same features.' Millions of lira. The municipality's money has been wasted with the official vehicle. While there are 4 official vehicles, a new vehicle has been purchased for over 5 million lira. Honestly, when we look at it, you are working with passion."