Fatih Altaylı's response to Murat Kurum on 'free transport' and 'press cards': 'To them, everyone is for sale...'

Journalist Fatih Altaylı criticized the election promise of AKP's Eskişehir candidate, former IYI Party member Nebi Hatipoğlu, to provide a minimum wage to journalists. Recalling the promise made by AKP's Istanbul candidate Murat Kurum to journalists regarding "free travel on all transport vehicles operated by the municipality," Altaylı reacted by saying, "The municipality's money is inherited from his father, and the municipality's resources are inherited from his mother, so he is free to give them to whomever he wants."

Altaylı also stated the following:

"I AM NOT A PRESS CARD HOLDER"

"Journalists are already for sale. Flash the cash, get the support. Besides, the Presidential Communications Directorate decides who is a journalist and who is not, so the favor won't go to a stranger," said Altaylı, adding, "People like Murat Kurum wouldn't know, but I am not a Press Card holder precisely for this reason—that is, because they provide such privileges to journalists. I haven't taken one for 42 years."

"TRANSPORT STUDENTS FOR FREE, NOT JOURNALISTS"

"And now someone has come out and said, 'If you get me elected, I'll make the bus, ferry, train, and Marmaray free for you again.' If you are going to transport someone for free, transport students for free, not journalists. To them, everyone and everything is for sale. But even if you disregard ethics and morality, these journalists are surely not stupid enough to not know that 'the only place you find free cheese is in a mousetrap.' If you really want to give something to journalists as the government, give them a little freedom, freedom."