CHP had filed a criminal complaint against TURKSTAT: Harsh response from Özel to the 'non-prosecution' decision
The prosecutor's office issued a decision of non-prosecution on the same day regarding the criminal complaint filed on July 19 by Gamze Taşcıer, CHP Deputy Chair responsible for the Ministry of Social Security, against the president and board members of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) for misconduct in office. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made a statement regarding the matter.
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CHP Deputy Chair Gamze Taşcıer's criminal complaint against the President of TURKSTAT and its Board Members for misconduct in office was rejected by the prosecutor's office on the grounds that it was 'not based on concrete information and documentation.' Responding to journalists' questions in Bursa, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reacted to the decision. Özel stated, "I have to accuse the person who issued the non-prosecution decision of being heartless. I would not say such a thing to members of the judiciary, but if you issue a non-prosecution decision for what TURKSTAT is doing, then the title you deserve is heartlessness."
'I WOULD NOT SAY SUCH A THING TO MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, BUT...'
Özel used the following expressions:
"TURKSTAT announces a house rent of 4800 TL. We ask TURKSTAT; you found this inflation to be 70 percent, but this aunt feels it as 150 percent, how did you find it to be 70 percent? If there is a house where one can put their head for 4800 TL, let TURKSTAT come and rent it. We filed a criminal complaint about this because TURKSTAT is not just lying. It is reaching into the citizen's pocket. Pensions and minimum wages are adjusted according to the inflation it announces. We could not find a place to complain about this. We complained everywhere, it didn't work. Finally, we filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office. They rejected it with jet speed. Let them go shopping based on the calculations TURKSTAT makes and see if they can do it? The salary they receive is many times higher than what these people receive. Everyone is struggling to make a living. But I have to accuse the person who issued the non-prosecution decision of being heartless. I would not say such a thing to members of the judiciary, but if you issue a non-prosecution decision for what TURKSTAT is doing, then the title you deserve is heartlessness"