Government's absence from budget talks sparks controversy

Budget negotiations held in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) have become the scene of controversy due to the lack of participation by members of the ruling party. Turhan Çömez, İYİ Party Balıkesir Deputy and member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, stated in a post on social media that the government benches were empty and that this situation prevented the budget negotiations from being conducted properly.

Çömez stated that despite the start of the budget negotiations, ruling party deputies were not in the hall and that a request for a quorum check was also objected to. It was noted that this situation was criticized by the opposition to draw attention to the importance of the budget negotiations. Çömez reported that a 25-minute break was called for the government side to assemble, and that they waited during this time.

Budget negotiations are known as meetings of critical importance for the country's economic future, where the government's fiscal policies and expenditures are discussed in detail. For this reason, the lack of participation by ruling party members was interpreted by the opposition as the government's indifference toward its own budget policies.

This development in the TBMM has also caused a wide reaction in public opinion. While opposition parties criticized the government for not attending the budget negotiations, no official statement has yet been made by the government side. It is awaited with curiosity how the budget negotiations will continue and whether government members will participate.

Another reaction to the government's stance came from Selçuk Türkoğlu

??The AK Party government and the People's Alliance have fallen into a situation where they cannot discuss or defend their own budget.

??A complete scandal occurred on the third day of budget negotiations in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

??In the opening count conducted by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tekin Bingöl, there was no sufficient quorum… pic.twitter.com/Vr0psO3LoW

— Selçuk Türkoğlu (@YS_Turkoglu) December 10, 2025

News Source: 12punto