CHP's Öztürkmen: Go after those who owe the 96% of the SGK debt!

Following President and AKP Chairman Erdoğan's 'shakedown' instruction regarding the Social Security Institution (SGK), foreclosure proceedings have been initiated against 6 municipalities. Reactions continue against the actions taken against opposition-led municipalities. Another reaction came from CHP Gaziantep MP Hasan Öztürkmen. Addressing Erdoğan, Öztürkmen said, "Erdoğan, who 'shakes down' the worker, the civil servant, and the minimum wage earner, has pressed the button for a planned operation for the general elections. We say 'planned' because it is documented. Do not say, 'Can there be a plan for a shakedown?' The Court of Accounts reports themselves give Erdoğan away." 

Stating that municipal debts cover only a 4% slice of the SGK's total receivables, Öztürkmen said, "Well then, to whom, to which institutions and companies does the remaining 96% of the debt belong? The government should explain that first! Instead of trying to 'shake down' municipalities for just 4% of the receivables, President Erdoğan should go after the massive 96% of outstanding debts!" 

Speaking at a press conference he held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), Hasan Öztürkmen made the following statements: 

"Now I will explain the documents of the municipal shakedown with the Court of Accounts reports themselves.

The Court of Accounts reports warn every year that the debts of municipalities to both the Treasury and the SGK are accumulating and state, 'It is assessed that if measures are not taken, the possibility of collecting these receivables through budget resources will disappear after a while.' For example, in 2017, 1084 out of a total of 1397 municipalities were in debt to the SGK. However, Erdoğan does not lift a finger. Because approximately 80% of these municipalities are in the hands of the AKP...

Let's examine some years with data...

The Social Security Institution's 2017 Court of Accounts Regularity Audit Report contains the finding that the premium debts of municipalities to the SGK cannot be collected, and the following statements are used:

'It has been observed that 1084 out of a total of 1397 municipalities, consisting of 30 metropolitan municipalities, 519 metropolitan district municipalities, 51 provincial municipalities, 400 district municipalities, and 397 town municipalities, have a total premium debt of 8,784,476,879.43 TL to the Social Security Institution that cannot be collected.'

As seen from the Court of Accounts report, in 2017, approximately 90% of municipalities were in debt to the SGK. Although the report explicitly includes the warning that 'It is assessed that there is a need for a legal regulation containing provisions that force municipalities to pay their debts,' the AKP government does not feel the need to take any steps!

According to the Court of Accounts reports, serious increases in the amount of SGK receivables that could not be collected from municipalities are noteworthy in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, premium receivables amounting to 5,962,888,297.62 TL could not be collected. As of 16.02.2021, the amount of SGK's receivables from municipalities has reached 23,664,776,674.72 TL.

On page 32 of the Social Security Institution's 2020 Court of Accounts Regularity Audit Report, it is stated exactly as follows regarding the SGK debts of municipalities:

'When the data received from the Institution is examined, it shows that some municipalities have made not paying premiums a habit and that the collection and follow-up methods for receivables are not being operated effectively by the Institution. Indeed, it is assessed that the possibility of collecting these receivables through budget resources will disappear after a while.'

We come to the year 2022... According to the Social Security Institution's 2022 Court of Accounts Regularity Audit Report, the premium and premium-related debts of municipalities and their affiliated companies to the SGK have exceeded 38 billion TL. The exact figure is 38,669,506,685.00 TL.

Considering that the SGK had a budget revenue of approximately 1 trillion 42 billion TL in 2022; the debt amount of municipalities, affiliated organizations, and municipal companies corresponds to approximately 4% of the SGK's 2022 revenues. Well then, to whom, to which institutions and companies does the remaining 96% of the debt belong? The government should explain that first! Instead of trying to 'shake down' municipalities for just 4% of the receivables, President Erdoğan should go after the massive 96% of outstanding debts!"