IMM Assembly cancels property allocations made to AKP-run district municipalities

The Assembly discussed the cancellation of the allocations of the Şehit Kaymakam Muhammed Fatih Safitürk Cultural Center, which had been granted to the AKP-run Ümraniye Municipality; the Adem Baştürk Cultural Center, granted to the Esenler Municipality; and the Animal Sacrifice and Sales Area, granted to the Pendik Municipality.

AKP Group Deputy Chairman Zeynel Abidin Okul stated that the issue of allocations had been brought to the agenda frequently during the previous term as well.

Stating that he would share a few points with regret, Okul spoke as follows:

"This issue of allocations is, of course, a very delicate matter. In a meeting I held with the CHP group in this new term, I warned them that this should be a non-partisan issue and that the interests of the people of Istanbul should be prioritized. They responded positively and proposed that we establish an informal commission to work on this. Naturally, we welcomed this. We assigned a few of our colleagues to it. Before the commission could even hold its first meeting, this issue of canceling the allocations was brought to the agenda. It is, of course, impossible to understand this."

Claiming that the CHP has emerged with a new agenda of moderation, aiming to embrace Turkey and the people of Istanbul with all their colors and political identities, Okul said, "They emerged with such a claim, but I see with regret that, unfortunately, the CHP mentality of 50 years ago remains exactly the same today."

Reminding that there were three agenda items regarding the cancellation of the allocations of properties given to district municipalities, Okul said, "One of these is the Adem Baştürk Cultural Center belonging to the Esenler Municipality. This is also very interesting. It was the first item from Esenler to come to the agenda in the first assembly. When we say Esenler, Mr. Mayor Tevfik Göksu comes to mind. I find it very significant that they brought this to the agenda in the first assembly, in the first meeting, with a revisionist, vengeful approach. It is an approach that has no place in either the understanding of democracy or the point of serving the public. We vehemently reject this. We will pursue the legal process regarding this with all our colleagues."

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ülkü Sakalar, on the other hand, stated that they had met with Okul and that it had been decided to bring the places allocated by AKP votes in the previous term to the agenda and to establish a commission on this matter.

Sakalar said, "Our colleagues called the colleagues assigned by the AK Party. They were told that they were unaware of the commission. I called Mr. Zeynel several times, and despite our calls for this commission for two weeks, no meeting was held."

Referring to the cultural center in Esenler, Sakalar said, "The AK Party group, without ever bringing it to this commission and in a non-consensual manner, began to allocate many properties, including the Adem Baştürk Cultural Center, which is also being used by the Esenler Municipality, to AKP-run municipalities on November 27, 2019, through a motion in the Assembly, without any negotiation with the IMM, relying on their majority."

Explaining that the IMM serves everywhere, Sakalar continued his words as follows:

"There are currently 99 more allocation files that were taken through motions in the Assembly in this way, and we are ready to talk about all of them; we will bring them to the commission to discuss them. But there were two weeks left until the start of the Assembly, we said 'Let's talk about these,' and you did not. You did not talk about them in the past either. If you wish, we can talk after this hour as well. Give us our property back. Return these to the Metropolitan Municipality."

Taking the floor again, Okul said, "I do not accept these statements in any way. 'We established a commission and you didn't come to the commission'... This is like a joke. We assigned our colleagues.

These things mentioned already took place within 10 days. Before the commission could even hold its first meeting, these allocation issues were brought to the agenda. The second issue mentioned is 'for the service of the people of Istanbul'... As if the people of Istanbul were not receiving service from here when it was under the Esenler Municipality? The entire public of Istanbul was still receiving service from here. Whose property are you taking from whom? Here, the service to the people of Istanbul and the people of Esenler has ultimately been obstructed."

Following the speeches, in the vote held, the allocation of the properties granted to the Esenler, Ümraniye, and Pendik municipalities was canceled by majority vote.

IMM Assembly cancels property allocations made to AKP-run district municipalitieshttps://t.co/bFlk5SULCE pic.twitter.com/pUNT6ttWm4

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) May 15, 2024

News Source: AA