TRT Director General's comment on Aybüke Pusat: He defended himself with these words
Responding to questions from members of parliament at the State Economic Enterprises (KİT) Commission, TRT Director General Zahid Sobacı spoke on many topics, ranging from the removal of Aybüke Pusat from a series and broadcasts regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, to the 11 billion lira in TRT's coffers and allegations of foreign trips. Sobacı stated, "At TRT, no one's political views or lifestyle are scrutinized. If they were, Aybüke would not have been cast in the first place."
TRT Director General Zahid Sobacı responded to questions from members of parliament at the Turkish Grand National Assembly's State Economic Enterprises (SEE) Commission. One of the prominent topics on the agenda was the removal of actress Aybüke Pusat from the series "Teşkilat," which airs on TRT 1. Pusat's departure from the series following her sharing of calls for a boycott against TRT had sparked controversy.
Responding to this issue, Sobacı said, "At TRT, no one looks at anyone's political views or lifestyle. If they did, Aybüke Pusat wouldn't have been able to act on TRT in the first place. Removing a name who calls for a boycott of TRT is the most natural right of TRT."
"WE DID NOT ACCUSE İMAMOĞLU"
TRT's broadcasts regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu were also brought up in the commission. Some members of parliament reacted by arguing that TRT was broadcasting with bias. Zahid Sobacı responded to these criticisms by saying, "We did not accuse anyone. We broadcast with headlines such as 'According to allegations' or 'What is İmamoğlu accused of?' We cannot ignore official investigations. Was TRT impartial when it was broadcasting in support of military tutelage, but now it is biased because it includes allegations of corruption in the IMM?"
"WHO ARE YOU WAVING THAT FINGER AT?"
Discussions in the commission occasionally raised the tension. CHP member Okan Konuralp reacted sharply to Zahid Sobacı, who interrupted CHP member Mahir Polat and spoke in a loud voice, saying, "Who are you waving that finger at!"
CHP Deputy Chairman Deniz Yavuzyılmaz commented on the TRT Director General's defenses, saying, "I think you are performing to become the director general again. Let's see if the President will be satisfied with this performance."
TRT HAS 11.3 BILLION TL IN ITS COFFERS
CHP members of parliament also brought up the Court of Accounts reports regarding TRT's revenue sources and expenditures. CHP's Mahir Polat stated that as of 2023, there was 11.3 billion TL in TRT's coffers and criticized the fact that this money was being evaluated in interest and securities: "At a time when the Treasury is looking for resources, why is this amount in TRT's coffers not being offered for the service of the citizens?"
CHP Deputy Chairman Yavuzyılmaz also stated that TRT has collected approximately 2 billion dollars in banderole revenue from the public over the last 4 years. Stating that there was a 75 percent increase in banderoles across a wide range of products from treadmills with radios to navigation devices, Yavuzyılmaz said, "You are misleading the public by saying that the TRT share on electricity bills has been removed."
RESPONSE TO THE 1.5 MILLION TL OVERSEAS TRIP ALLEGATION
Another allegation brought up at the commission meeting was an overseas trip for which the TRT management allegedly spent 1.5 million TL. Denying the allegation, which CHP's İzzet Akbulut brought to the agenda based on a report, Sobacı rejected the accusation by saying, "There is absolutely no such thing. This allegation must be proven by the person making it."