Silence in the Cabinet regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu
From MASAK reports and TRT broadcasts to post-arrest protests and the banning of posters, CHP's motions regarding the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu have not received clear answers from the Cabinet.
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No indictment has yet been written regarding the detained presidential candidate and Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Ekrem İmamoğlu. According to a report by Cumhuriyet, during this process, motions submitted to Parliament by CHP deputies have either been left unanswered or dismissed with superficial responses.
ŞİMŞEK’S “CONFIDENTIALITY” RESPONSE
CHP Diyarbakır Deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu asked Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek about the MASAK reports prepared within the scope of the investigation. In his response, Şimşek stated that “the documents cannot be shared due to the confidentiality of the investigation.”
TRT BROADCASTS SPARK DEBATE
CHP Ordu Deputy Mustafa Adıgüzel also brought up the fact that, even though there is no indictment against İmamoğlu, TRT has aired hours of broadcasts using terms such as “leader of a criminal organization” and “perpetrator.” Adıgüzel asked, “What measures are being taken to ensure that TRT acts in accordance with the principle of impartiality?”
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, however, defended TRT, claiming it “operates in accordance with the constitution and laws as an impartial and autonomous broadcasting organization.”
TUNÇ AND YERLİKAYA REMAIN SILENT
Questions directed at Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç and Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya were left unanswered.
Tunç was asked, “What is the number of complaints filed due to violence and ill-treatment during the protests held on March 19 and thereafter? How many of these complaints have resulted in the initiation of an administrative investigation?” but no response was provided.
Regarding the question directed at Yerlikaya concerning the collection of posters and banners of İmamoğlu, asking “What is the justification for the decision to collect posters and banners that are clearly contrary to the constitution and laws? Who gave the unlawful order for this practice, which was carried out upon the instruction of the prosecutor's office without any judicial decision?” the only response given was that “the matter is not under the responsibility of his ministry.”