Record budget deficit debate: Özgür Karabat: Do not try to cover up incompetence with the earthquake

Reactions to the record budget deficit continue to pour in. CHP Deputy Chairman Özgür Karabat stated that the government is using earthquake expenditures as an excuse for the budget deficit, calling this a big lie. Karabat wrote the following on his social media account:

In 2023, a budget deficit of 1.37 trillion TL was recorded. A record deficit of 842.5 billion liras was seen in December alone. In the Medium-Term Program (OVP) prepared in September, a budget deficit of 1.6 trillion TL was projected for 2023. However, the essential document here is the 2023 budget law. A budget deficit of 661 billion liras was projected there as well. Moreover, an additional budget of 1 trillion liras was implemented last year. Now, Mehmet Şimşek has come out and is boasting that the budget deficit came in lower than the OVP projection. The AKP is using earthquake expenditures as an excuse for the budget deficit. This is a huge lie! They talked about monetary tightening and rational policies, but the public sector is still not tightening its belt. While taxes are raining down on citizens, the AKP continues to squander money through unlimited borrowing and spending. The 2024 budget deficit target in the OVP is 2.6 trillion TL. Why is this deficit growing even though citizens are paying taxes on everything from needles to thread? Do not dare use the earthquake as an excuse! Neither the Treasury's borrowing nor the taxes it collects are enough. Turkey cannot bring inflation under control with these erratic policies. Unfortunately, 2024 looks like it will make us miss 2023.

News Source: 12punto