Tensions rise in Parliament: Erdoğan and İmamoğlu's diplomas back on the agenda

During the deliberations on the 2025 Central Government Budget Law Proposal and the 2023 Central Government Final Account Law Proposal at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), tensions rose between CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir and AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler.

Comparing the budget to a patient, CHP's Emir alluded to the ongoing debates regarding the authenticity of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's diploma. Emir's remark, "It is unclear whether the President has a diploma, but it is certain that he is not a doctor," caused tension in the General Assembly.

'THE PRESIDENT IS NOT A DOCTOR, BUT HE IS TREATING'

Criticizing the government's economic policies during his speech, Emir stated the following:

"I liken the budget to a sick child. The child has a fever, and you take them to the emergency room. What needs to be done? You need to look at the cause of the fever. But the President—it is unclear whether he has a diploma, but it is certain he is not a doctor—says, 'I will treat this child.' By saying 'interest is the cause, inflation is the result,' they continue to implement policies contrary to economic science. They lowered the 19 percent interest rate to 9 percent, and they applauded it here. Inflation exploded."

GÜLER'S RESPONSE REGARDING İMAMOĞLU 

Following these remarks, AKP Group Chairman Abdullah Güler took the podium and responded to Emir's criticisms by targeting the diploma of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Güler stated, "The esteemed speaker was talking about health when he suddenly mentioned a 'diploma.' When a person shifts from their routine to another area, a previously experienced event is mentally triggered. The speaker must have remembered a mayor who transferred to Istanbul University from an obscure school allegedly attended in Cyprus. There are question marks regarding Mr. İmamoğlu's diploma. Is there perhaps something about that diploma that led the speaker to bring this issue to the agenda?" he said.

Güler also criticized the IMM administration, saying, "Apply your high-level economic knowledge to the IMM budget. Come and tell us about a municipal budget full of investments, free of debt and burdens."

THE JUDICIARY AND YÖK ARE IN YOUR HANDS

Responding to Güler's statements, Murat Emir said, "If there is a problem with Mr. İmamoğlu's diploma, both the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the judiciary are in your hands. You can do what is necessary." he said.

Emir stated, "The President still hasn't been able to say, 'These are my school friends, my military service friends' regarding his diploma. Since the Supreme Election Council (YSK) did not investigate the diploma ex officio, this issue has remained unresolved. The President acts like an expert on every subject, yet ignores the fundamental realities of the economy."

News Source: 12punto