Murat Kurum challenges Mansur Yavaş to a 'showdown' and targets Ekrem İmamoğlu

The controversy between the AKP and CHP regarding the social security (SGK) debts of municipalities continues.

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş had stated in his remarks on the subject, "The Ministry of Environment owes us. We have receivables from the roads and bridges built to Bilkent City Hospital and the Eryaman Stadium during the period before us. The current figure is 1 billion 325 million liras."

A response to Yavaş's words came from the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum.

Speaking at the Istanbul Bağcılar Nation's Garden Opening and Urban Transformation Ceremony, Kurum said, "Bring it on," and stated the following:

“He says, 'Let's settle the accounts.' Bring it on, let's settle them. Let's settle them, but you, as a municipality, have not even fulfilled your own duties. First, do what you are supposed to do. Follow the procedures and rules. You must send us the expenditure amounts made by the municipality. You haven't sent them. You must share with us the status of the sales of Treasury immovable properties, which fall under the authority of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, and the information regarding the tender prices. You haven't shared them. Do your job first.”

“ISTANBUL NEEDS ACTION”

In the continuation of his speech, Kurum also targeted IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whom he lost to in the March 31 Local Elections.

Stating that there is no time to lose with controversies in Istanbul, which faces earthquake risks, Kurum said:

“Istanbul needs action. It does not need arguments, petty squabbles, or political maneuvering; it needs service, projects, and investment. Our nation does not want to hear constant excuses from you. They are waiting for you to say, 'Let's do this for transportation and that for transformation in Istanbul.' We are in a critical process. We are living with the danger of an earthquake in this city. To use an analogy, we are sitting on a ticking time bomb. We must all take action together.”

“THEY ARE DIGGING THROUGH OLD BOOKS LIKE BANKRUPT MERCHANTS”

Using the phrase “We are taking our steps one by one. But you also need to take responsibility now” for opposition municipalities, Kurum said, “Our President Erdoğan told the municipalities, 'Pay your SGK debts.' Why did he say this? He said it because the municipalities have billions in debt. What are they doing? They immediately cling to excuses. When they see they cannot get out of it, they dig through old books like bankrupt merchants.”