151 percent increase: A massive budget for the Diyanet!
The budget for the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), which has sparked public debate for surpassing many ministries due to its high funding, has been increased from 23 billion 552 million TL to 91 billion 824 million TL. This increase corresponds to 151 percent.
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The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Planning and Budget Committee has begun deliberations on the 2024 budgets for the Presidency and its affiliated institutions.
As the discussions continue, the budget proposed for the Presidency of Religious Affairs for 2024 has drawn attention.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated the following during his presentation on the Presidency's budget:
“In an environment where political uncertainties have been eliminated following the May elections, and where the policy framework has been clarified through the plans and programs we have prepared, thereby increasing predictability, we expect international direct investments to gain momentum in the coming period. The Investment Office's expenditure for 2022 was 169 million 158 thousand liras. It is projected that 507 million liras will be transferred to the Office from the Presidential budget in 2024.”
Yılmaz said in his presentation, “In 2024, the Presidency of Religious Affairs will continue to provide enlightenment and guidance on religious matters to many segments of society, especially children and young people, to conduct workshops and scientific meetings, and to carry out services related to sacrifices and the Hajj, as well as religious services and religious education abroad, in addition to its domestic activities. The final account expenditure of the Presidency for 2022 is 23 billion 552 million 361 thousand liras. The appropriation amount proposed for the 2024 budget is 91 billion 824 million 805 thousand liras.”
The Diyanet's budget in 2023 was 36 billion 468 million 836 thousand TL.