Austerity measures fall flat: Number of public vehicles continues to rise
As the economic crisis deepens, the number of vehicles in the public sector continues to rise. The number of vehicles owned by 45 public administrations, which was 98,852 in 2018, has reached 106,363, excluding leased vehicles.
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While citizens struggle with the cost of living due to high inflation and rising prices, public spending continues to increase.
Despite the public austerity measures announced by Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek in May, the number of vehicles owned by public administrations has increased. According to a report by Birgün, the total number of vehicles in the public sector, excluding those leased, exceeded 106,000 this year.
DESPITE AUSTERITY MEASURES...
Between January and July, the public sector leased vehicles for a total of 2 billion 429 million 51 thousand TL. The cost of vehicles purchased during the same period was recorded as 178 million 133 thousand TL. The scale of vehicle acquisitions, which even the Austerity Measures Circulars could not prevent, was also revealed by data from the Presidency's Strategy and Budget Directorate.
CONTINUES TO RISE
Accordingly, the number of vehicles held by administrations under the general budget was 98,852 in 2018. The number of vehicles acquired for the use of 45 public administrations rose to 101,107 in 2019. With the effect of the circular published in 2020, which envisioned savings in public spending, there was a decrease in the number of vehicles. In this context, the number of vehicles owned by the public sector fell to 98,730 in 2020.
However, starting from 2021, the "reign of vehicles" in the public sector has expanded even further. It was stated that the total number of vehicles in the inventory of 45 public administrations in 2021 was 100,846. The increase in the number of vehicles continued in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Accordingly, it was reported that the number of public vehicles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 was 103,104, 104,400, and 106,363, respectively.
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Presidency: 461
Ministry of National Education: 3,274
Ministry of Family and Social Services: 1,027
Revenue Administration: 1,110
Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change: 1,033
Ministry of Youth and Sports: 831