AK Party Konya Deputy Orhan Erdem, regarding the fund investigations, said, “I believe that this issue will be pursued uncompromisingly to the end.” he said.
In the GNAT Planning and Budget Commission, MPs express their opinions on the 2027 Central Government Budget Law Proposal and the 2025 Central Government Final Account Law Proposal as well as the Court of Accounts reports.
Speaking on behalf of the New Party Group, Antalya Deputy Cavit Arı made evaluations and criticisms regarding the fund investigations and claimed that the Law on Certain Investment Funds Decided to be Liquidated, which was accepted and became law in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly last week, will not solve the problems and grievances.
Stating that the budget deficit in the 2027 budget is 3 trillion 868 billion liras and interest expenses are 3 trillion 976 billion liras, Arı said, “At the very beginning, one-third of the budget consists of budget deficit and interest expenses. While budget negotiations were held in 2019, interest expenses were 100 billion liras. Interest increased to 3 trillion 976 billion liras in 7 years. That means, in 7 years, the interest in the budget was almost 38 billion liras.” “This shows how negative the economy is going.” he said.
Stating that Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said in his budget presentation that “the basic philosophy of the 2027 budget is durability, prosperity and transformation,” Arı said, “The government produces an excuse for the increase in inflation every year while preparing the budgets, and this year’s excuse is the war process in the Middle East.”
Speaking on behalf of the DEM Party Group, Party Spokesperson and Şırnak Deputy Ayşegül Doğan claimed that they were faced with a deep poverty that was covered up.
Stating that poverty is one of the most fundamental problems that everyone should feel responsible for, Doğan said, “There are no poor people in this budget, there are no women, there are no young people. There is a promise of no future for them again. I’m sorry. I don’t want to talk like that. I would like to say, ‘this budget equalizes us like this, defines us women like this, covers the young people like this…’ But unfortunately, I cannot say that. This budget is not a budget for the people. Unfortunately, it is a budget for capital and strengthening capital.” he said.
Doğan argued that the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process, which emerged as a state policy, was not reflected in the 2027 budget.
DEM Party Erzurum Deputy Meral Danış Beştaş stated that their most basic demands regarding the budget are to increase the lowest pension, minimum wage and holiday bonuses, update the tax brackets in favor of the workers, and eliminate the grievances of EYT.
“Türkiye HAS NOT GAINED A SERIOUS VISION AND PERSPECTIVE”
Group Deputy Chairman Rahmi Aşkın Türeli, speaking on behalf of the CHP Group, claimed that 5 development plans and 21 medium-term programs, as well as budgets, were prepared during the 24-year rule of the AK Party, but Türkiye’s fundamental and structural problems could not be solved.
Making evaluations and criticisms about the budget items, Türeli said, “There is no point in trying to explain things with external dynamics. You are doing something wrong. It is necessary to correct that mistake. Only the structural problems have not been solved, Turkey has not gained a serious vision and perspective with the programs. On the other hand, there has been a funding crisis problem. This is a huge crisis in terms of the capital market. For this, a Parliamentary investigation commission must be established. Let’s establish a commission with the government and the opposition. You cannot solve this problem with this law alone.” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the İYİ Party Group, Deputy Chairman and Samsun Deputy Erhan Usta said that Türkiye has been dealing with double-digit inflation for 10 years and that the government’s efforts are not enough to reduce inflation.
Stating that the country has become dependent on foreign sources for financing, goods and products, and that the problems of the employment market, informality, inefficiency and poverty continue, Usta criticized the fund investigations.
While expressing his criticism, Usta said to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, “There is no one taking responsibility. You have to take responsibility for your statements. You directed this nation to these funds. Mehmet Şimşek objected, you directed this nation to these funds. Don’t you have any responsibility? Are you not thinking of resigning at all?” he said.
Reacting to Usta’s words, Vice President Yılmaz said, “You will walk away, but leave a trace of mud, right? The burden of slandering will be on your neck, a burden you will always carry. I am not afraid of being judged, but you will carry the burden of slandering throughout your life.” he replied.
Speaking on behalf of the New Path Party Group, Adana Deputy Sadullah Kısacık argued that the 2027 budget was an “interest budget” and said:
“In the budget presentation, you say, ‘We removed this budget from the interest budget and made it a service budget.’ Now we are paying 3 trillion 975 billion in interest and this budget is not an interest budget. This interest we pay is 115 times the budget of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, 99 times the budget of the Presidency, 61 times the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and 78 times the budget of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. So how is this budget not an interest budget?
“WHAT WILL BE THE ADDITIONAL STEPS TOWARDS MEETING WELFARE EXPECTATIONS?”
Speaking on behalf of the MHP Group, Deputy Chairman and Istanbul Deputy İsmail Faruk Aksu said that Türkiye was exposed to many risks such as terrorism, epidemic, earthquake, FETO’s coup attempt, economic sanctions and regional instabilities, and although these processes were successfully managed, the country’s economic development was negatively affected and delayed the realization of its goals.
Emphasizing that the largest share of the budget is allocated to education, health, social aid and support and investments, Aksu stated that the expectations of low-income citizens from the budget are important.
Aksu continued his words as follows:
“What will be the additional steps to meet the welfare expectations of segments of society such as tradesmen, farmers, employees and retirees? What additional policies will be put into effect to make income distribution more equitable? Although these may seem like a choice between investments and social policies in resource allocation, our resources will be enlarged and our opportunities will be used in the direction of strategic goals. As a matter of fact, Turkey envisages carrying out studies that will increase the purchasing power of large segments of society and adhering to its development goals with management stability. In this context, along with economic and financial policies, corruption, bribery and manpower “Eliminating the elements that lead to the abuse of public resources such as nepotism, activating the control system as well as deterrent sanctions in this direction, and making the necessary legal and administrative regulations will increase public resources while also supporting social trust, predictability and economic stability.”
Stating that practices that will enable adequate production, healthy distribution and appropriate marketing for items that trigger inflation, especially food, should be implemented, Aksu asked for an all-out struggle that evaluates social and political life, moral and cultural grounds as well as economic policies.
Aksu said, “As MHP, we see it necessary to build a mechanism in which basic needs such as nutrition, shelter, clothing and transportation, which strain the livelihood of our citizens, will no longer be a burden on our families.” he said.
“DESPITE DOMESTIC AND EXTERNAL INFLUENCES, Türkiye IS GROWING STABLELY”
Speaking on behalf of the AK Party Group, Konya Deputy Orhan Erdem said that they have a government and stability that has been able to grow the economy despite the many negativities it has experienced.
Stating that national income, exports and tourism revenues have increased, Erdem said, “We aim to reduce the share of interest rates on the budget to the lowest levels in the history of the Republic, to 22 percent next year, from a rate of 70-80 points in the world. Do we not have shortcomings? We do. Do we not have problems? We do, but we are talking about a Türkiye that grows steadily despite many internal and external influences in this difficult geography.” he said.
Pointing out that Türkiye has now become a country that spoils the games, Erdem stated that while Türkiye was struggling with its own internal problems in the past, today it is also the hope of its close geography and relative communities.
Recalling the opposition’s criticism regarding the fund investigations, Erdem said:
“I believe that this issue will be pursued to the end, without compromise. Unfortunately, it would have been better if these things had not happened, but these crises, which have been experienced from time to time in the world, also enable us to create the infrastructure of stronger economies. We wanted to strengthen the financial sector for years, and we have strengthened it. Now, at this point, I believe that we need to end our mistakes with legal studies, which we will do if necessary, without letting it go backwards, and without letting it go backwards.”
