Detail of a house with a wood stove during Erdoğan's iftar visit in Istanbul becomes a talking point

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan were guests at the home of Miyasa and Ali Kayacık in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district yesterday evening, where they broke their fast together. AKP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir and his wife Nihal Özdemir also accompanied them during the visit.

In the photos released to the press, it was clearly visible that a wood stove was being used for heating in the house, and this detail sparked various discussions on social media and among the public. In particular, the existence of homes in a major metropolis like Istanbul that still lack or do not use natural gas infrastructure was brought to the agenda.

THAT STATEMENT CAME TO MIND

During the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources budget negotiations held at the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee last November, when CHP deputy Akay said, "The gas cylinder in the kitchen is empty," Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar replied, "Because they use natural gas, there is no need." These remarks by Bayraktar were described as the "answer of the year" by media outlets close to the government at the time. In his budget presentation, Minister Bayraktar also stated that the government had brought natural gas to all 81 provinces and argued that comprehensive investments had been made in this direction.

However, the images taken during Erdoğan's iftar yesterday evening revealed that even within Istanbul, some citizens continue to live in houses with wood stoves and use gas cylinders in their kitchens. This situation has sparked new debates regarding the accessibility and inclusivity of the energy investments being carried out.

Following this visit by Erdoğan, the real-world reflections of energy policies and the extent of the expansion of natural gas infrastructure have begun to be evaluated on the public agenda once again.

News Source: 12punto