CHP's 'TRT' group proposal rejected by AKP and MHP votes

The group proposal submitted by the CHP regarding "taking necessary measures to eliminate TRT's policy that ignores the principle of impartiality" was rejected by the votes of AKP and MHP deputies.

"WE ARE WARNING YOU FOR THE LAST TIME"

Explaining the justification for the motion, CHP Eskişehir Deputy Utku Çakırözer stated the following:

"It has a special law that obligates it to provide public broadcasting for all our citizens. It cannot broadcast in a one-sided, biased manner. So what has this TRT turned into? It has turned into Tayyip Erdoğan's radio and television, it has turned into the AK Party's mouthpiece. There is news here about how many people will be in the squares on election day for the AK Party. The only place where the opposition appears is when the AK Party Spokesperson uses the word opposition while criticizing...

The local election calendar has begun, and TRT is chasing a record in partisanship. Since January 1, 2,592 minutes have been allocated to AK Party Chairman Erdoğan, while only 43 minutes have been allocated to our Chairman Özgür Özel. Where is this fair, where is this impartial broadcasting? The same dire picture exists for our mayoral candidates as well. Now, pirate propaganda films have started on TRT under the name 'Cities of Turkey'.

They are stealing from advertising time; if they took ads, they would generate revenue, but public funds are being wasted—who cares? The most painful part of the matter is that this blackout imposed on us is being carried out with our own taxes. We, all 85 million of us, pay for it, but TRT ignores at least half of this nation and their right to receive information.

It is no longer the nation's TRT; it has become the AK Party's private farm, and it is clearly committing a crime. We are calling on the authorized bodies, RTÜK, the YSK, and the courts, to do their duty. We are also warning TRT for the last time and inviting it to engage in fair and impartial broadcasting in this election."

"TRT MANAGEMENT IS CLEARLY COMMITTING A CONSTITUTIONAL CRIME"

Speaking on behalf of the Saadet-Gelecek Party Group regarding the proposal, Istanbul Deputy Doğan Demir expressed the following:

"The most obvious example of TRT's broadcasting policy, which ignores the principle of impartiality, is its promotion of the political power's single-voiced propaganda while ignoring and silencing opposition voices. TRT has been transformed into an advertising agency that has made it its duty only to conduct election propaganda for the ruling power.

It is also violating the public's right to receive accurate information. Instead of making the voices of different ethnic and religious cultural groups heard, it does the exact opposite. It is essential that TRT immediately puts the principle of impartiality back at the center. The TRT management is clearly committing a constitutional crime. With the public's money, the ruling power and a certain class are being advertised."

"IT HAS BECOME A VILLAGE WITHOUT A WATCHMAN"

Speaking on behalf of the İYİ Party Group, Tekirdağ Deputy Selcan Taşçı Hamşioğlu stated the following:

"TRT has committed this crime in every election without fail, and it continues to do so. The place where a crime should primarily be brought to the agenda is the judiciary. There are also violation reports prepared by experts in the past. Did RTÜK forward these to the YSK? No. There is a crime but no punishment; it has become a 'village without a watchman.' Because it is like this, it was able to cancel the Republic of Turkey's 100th-anniversary programs as if they were an ordinary event."

The CHP's group proposal was rejected by the votes of AKP and MHP deputies.