AKP reacts to Mansur Yavaş over concerts: 'You will not be able to escape accountability'

AKP Ankara Provincial Chairman Hakan Han Özcan issued a written statement accusing Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş of "draining" the municipal budget through concerts. Özcan claimed that the budget allocated for concerts organized by the ABB is suspicious and demanded that Yavaş be held accountable.

In his statement, Özcan said, "No matter what you do, you will not be able to escape being held accountable for the draining of the municipality's resources through concerts." Expressing his views on Yavaş's potential presidential candidacy, Özcan stated, "You have the right to be a candidate, but while exercising this right, you cannot eat away at Ankara's rights, nor can you let others do so. You cannot use millions of liras belonging to the nation for the sake of your political calculations, and you cannot create a budget for that."

Hakan Han Özcan noted the following in his written statement:

"Your current presidential candidacy is an internal party matter and does not concern us much. But the draining of the municipal budget is a matter for our nation and concerns us all. Our President is in a different lane than you and your cronies. You cannot cover up the scandal that has erupted in the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality by using your internal party candidacy disputes as an excuse. This scandal did not happen to you because you claim to be polling high; you are hiding behind so-called polls because this scandal has erupted."

"No matter what you do, you will not be able to escape being held accountable for the draining of the municipality's resources through concerts. The agendas you fabricate will not prevent us from demanding accountability for the concert robberies, which are, in a sense, a case of being caught red-handed. You had used the concept of 'kul hakkı' (the rights of the people) as material so much that now divine justice is manifesting against those who exploit it. Your efforts to create artificial agendas will find no response, and we will continue to expose your true colors."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Artist Ebru Gündeş had taken the stage at a concert organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality at the Atatürk Forest Farm Natural Life Park as part of the October 29 Republic Day celebrations. Subsequently, a debate arose regarding the expenses of the Gündeş concert.

In a written statement made from the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality's X account and signed by Mansur Yavaş, it was stated, "In recent days, there have been allegations in some media outlets that 69 million TL was paid for the Ebru Gündeş concert. Our internal audit unit has launched an investigation into this matter." The statement said that the payment for the concert had not been made and would not be made until the investigation is completed.

Yesterday, a debate broke out between the CHP and AK Party groups at the ABB Assembly meeting due to concert expenditures.

STATEMENT FROM ABB: NOT 69, BUT 44 MILLION!

The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) denied the allegations of 69 million TL in spending regarding the Ebru Gündeş concert, which was organized as part of the 101st-anniversary events of the Republic. In the statement made by the municipality, it was announced that the actual cost of the concert was 44 million 937 thousand 117 TL, including VAT.