AKP targets Üsküdar Municipality: Hilmi Türkmen claimed 'bankruptcy,' yet he also obtained borrowing authorization during his own term
Although AKP member Hilmi Türkmen characterized CHP Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş's request for borrowing authorization as a "first in the history of Üsküdar Municipality" and a "certificate of bankruptcy," municipal council records reveal that during Türkmen's own term, he also obtained 75 million TL in borrowing authorization and carried out real estate transfers.
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AKP member Hilmi Türkmen, who lost the Üsküdar mayoral seat to CHP's Sinem Dedetaş in the March 31, 2024 local elections, has targeted the current municipal administration.
Sharing the document containing Dedetaş's request for borrowing authorization on his social media account, Türkmen claimed this was a first for Üsküdar Municipality and alleged that the municipality had gone "bankrupt."
A FIRST IN THE HISTORY OF ÜSKÜDAR MUNICIPALITY: CERTIFICATE OF BANKRUPTCY
— Hilmi Türkmen (@hilmiturkmen34) March 3, 2026
Two years ago, a municipality that was running smoothly, had 150 million in cash in its coffers, and possessed 2.5 billion in real estate assets was handed over, and all of those assets were sold off rapidly.
Two years have passed.
The point reached is clear.
A single… pic.twitter.com/Zwk5n91s5T
It has emerged from municipal council decisions that AKP member Hilmi Türkmen, who served as the Mayor of Üsküdar between 2014 and 2024, also requested borrowing authorization and conducted real estate sales during his own term.
75 MILLION TL BORROWING AUTHORIZATION IN 2020
In the Üsküdar Municipal Council decision dated May 13, 2020, it was stated that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a decline in municipal revenues, and a need for borrowing might arise to maintain budget balance. The decision, citing relevant articles of the Municipal Law No. 5393, was unanimously approved to grant the Mayor 75 million TL in borrowing authorization. The decision in question bears the signature of Hilmi Türkmen as the mayor at the time.
TRANSFER OF REAL ESTATE LOCATED IN A MOSQUE AREA IN 2019
On the other hand, in another council decision dated January 7, 2019, it was seen that the transfer of a property "located in a mosque area" in Çengelköy Neighborhood to the Treasury for a price of 29 million 732 thousand 950 TL was approved. The decision stated that the transfer of the property in question to be offset against tax debts was accepted.