Commentary on the white meat operation in ruling party circles: 'The culprit behind food inflation has been revealed'

The investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the white meat sector has resonated in both the business world and political circles. The process, which involves Turkey's leading white meat producers, has also brought new assessments regarding food inflation debates to AK Party circles.

On June 12, simultaneous operations were carried out centered in Istanbul, as well as in Ankara, Balıkesir, Bolu, Bursa, İzmir, Samsun, and Uşak. As part of the operations, detention warrants were issued for 32 people, including CEOs and senior executives of the companies.

The 29 detained individuals were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the police station. The suspects were released under judicial control measures, including a travel ban.

TRUSTEES APPOINTED TO 13 LEADING COMPANIES IN THE SECTOR

As part of the investigation, it was decided to appoint supervisory trustees to 13 companies operating in the white meat sector.

The companies to which supervisory trustees were appointed are listed as follows:

Şenpiliç

Banvit

Erpiliç

Lezita

Keskinoğlu

Hastavuk

Bakpiliç

Bupiliç

Akpiliç

Aspiliç

Gedik Tavukçuluk

Orvital

AY-Pİ Tavukçuluk

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek had announced that these companies were assessed to have disrupted market operations, leading to unfair price increases and consumer grievances.

3.7 BILLION LIRA FINE FROM THE COMPETITION BOARD

Another notable development following the operation occurred on the Competition Board front.

A total administrative fine of 3.7 billion liras was imposed on 13 companies operating in the same sector. Thus, in addition to the judicial investigation, an administrative sanction process was also put into effect.

According to the report by Merve Kılıç from the Cumhuriyet newspaper, notable comments were made in AK Party circles regarding food inflation after the operation.

Party sources argued that the investigation into the white meat sector revealed an important picture regarding the reasons for the rise in food prices.

Pointing to the criticisms long directed at the government's economic policies, AK Party strategists made the following assessment after the operation:

"Our President, Mr. Erdoğan, has pressed the button regarding the citizens' cost-of-living crisis. Opportunists will not be tolerated. This operation has revealed that food inflation stems from market actors, not government policies. The citizens have seen this too."

"NO PRIVILEGES GRANTED TO CLOSE NAMES" 

AK Party sources also claimed that the investigation is an indication that no privileges were granted to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's inner circle or businesspeople close to the government.

A party official expressed the following on the subject:

"Erdoğan did not grant privileges even to names close to him. We have been fighting against certain capital circles since we came to power. Whoever it may be, we stand against those who reach into the pockets of the citizens."

THE AK PARTY NAME DETAIL IN THE OPERATION

One of the most discussed topics in the public eye regarding the investigation was the political connections of some companies.

It was recalled that Önder Matlı, the owner of Keskinoğlu Tavukçuluk, one of the companies to which a supervisory trustee was appointed, served as an AK Party deputy for Bursa in the 24th and 25th terms.

The fact that Matlı had held high-level positions within the party in the past brought the debate of "has the government turned on names in its own circle?" to the agenda after the operation.

While it was stated that some other company owners operating in the sector have also been shown among businesspeople close to the government for many years, it was expressed that this is why the emphasis on "no privileges granted to close names" was highlighted in AK Party circles.

COURT DECISION TO APPEAL TRUSTEE MEASURES

New developments have occurred in the legal dimension of the investigation.

The appeals made to the courts by Gedik Piliç, Erpiliç, Keskinoğlu, and Lezita, for whom supervisory trustee decisions were made, were accepted.

With the decisions made by the courts, the trustee measures applied to the companies in question began to be lifted.

Thus, the practice of appointing supervisory trustees, one of the most striking measures taken within the scope of the operation, has become a subject of debate once again.

Opposition parties, on the other hand, argue that the root cause of high inflation and the increase in food prices is the economic management.

Opposition representatives state that the government is trying to shift the responsibility for rising prices onto companies through the operation targeting the white meat sector.