Erdoğan scolds his party: 'You lied to me'

Activity continues behind the scenes in Ankara. Recent internal unease within the AKP has come to the fore with President Erdoğan's harsh criticisms directed at some members of his party.

According to insider information shared by journalist Nuray Babacan, the EYT regulation and local government policies were severely criticized in recent AKP meetings.

ERDOĞAN'S 'YOU LIED TO ME' OUTBURST

It is alleged that in closed-door meetings held by the AKP, the EYT regulation was mismanaged, resulting in a strong reaction from President Erdoğan.

According to Babacan, a party member who spoke at the meeting emphasized that the cost of the EYT regulation was much higher than expected and that warnings on this issue had been ignored despite being raised earlier. The remarks included: “It was said that the annual cost of the EYT regulation would be 25 billion liras, but it turned out to be 300 billion liras. President Erdoğan reacted strongly, saying, 'You deceived me.'”

GROWING ANXIETY WITHIN

Criticisms regarding the direction of the AKP are also hardening. It is stated that some figures within the party have made assessments such as, “No one is looking at the signs because we think we are on a straight road, but we are moving fast and we are going to hit a wall at this speed.”

Following issues of incompetence, disintegration, and wrong decisions, the concerns of experienced figures within the party have increased. It is suggested that even media outlets close to the government cannot ignore these problems.

In addition to the EYT regulation, local governments have also caused debates within the AKP. According to Babacan's insider information, the Local Government Reform Package, which was prepared in the past but could never be implemented, was also criticized within the AKP.

The content of this reform package addressed the balance between strong local governments and a centralist structure. However, prominent figures of the time, especially Melih Gökçek and Kadir Topbaş, lobbied against this reform package, causing some parts of it to be shelved.

Examples regarding the obstruction of the Local Government Reform Package were also brought to the agenda. It was alleged that Melih Gökçek and Kadir Topbaş did not want their municipalities' powers to be taken away and therefore blocked the content of the reform package. It is stated that these obstructions occurred due to objections coming from within the party.

According to assessments made in AKP circles, the consequences of these wrong decisions are becoming more apparent today. The removal of municipal powers from metropolitan cities and their centralization has brought new problems with it.

It is stated that the narrowing of the powers held by metropolitan cities, especially Ankara and Istanbul, has had negative consequences for the functioning of the central administration.

It is reported that important figures within the AKP frequently voice problems such as disintegration and incompetence behind closed doors, and that this situation is leading to growing anxiety. The unease in the public and within the party has become even more visible with Erdoğan's reaction to his party.