Former AKP Balıkesir Mayor responds to CHP's Akın over '15.5 billion TL debt' claim

Speaking at a press conference held at the AKP Balıkesir Provincial Headquarters, former mayor Yücel Yılmaz addressed the debt table of 15 billion 428 million 985 thousand 173 TL announced by Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın.

Claiming that there is no such debt of 15 billion, Yücel Yılmaz said, “We represented Balıkesir with pride both in Turkey and in the world. When we set out to serve the nation, we also accepted that we would be criticized.

Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality is a very strong municipality. We do not believe that we have damaged the city, the budget, our nation, or the image of our city.

A debt burden is being mentioned. It is not possible for us to agree on these figures. There is only one thing to be taken seriously here: the Court of Accounts reports. In the report audited by the Court of Accounts, market debts are 767 million 368 thousand 747 lira.

SGK premium debts (restructured) are 14 million 494 thousand 75 lira. The restructured debt to tax offices is 28 million 512 thousand 753 lira, and the bank loan debt is 2 billion 689 million 666 thousand 416 lira, totaling 3 billion 500 million. But there is no 15.5 billion debt as claimed,” he said.

"WE WOULD HAVE MANAGED IT IF WE HAD WON"

Continuing his words by saying, “Do not disgrace Balıkesir to Turkey,” Yücel Yılmaz said, “Do not act on the instructions of your Headquarters.

Fırıntaş is the 5th company in tax record-breaking. CHP deputies Serkan Sarı and Ensar Aytekin said, ‘We will seek our rights.’ If you don't seek them, you are dishonorable. If you claim that 15.5 billion lira is missing, explain it one by one.

When I was mayor, I never brought this city to the agenda with fights or unnecessary polemics with a business group or a political party. I kept the city standing with the stance of our bureaucrats, our services, and the work we did. I am afraid the peace of Balıkesir will be disturbed. There cannot be a Mayor who speaks differently there and differently outside. All of Balıkesir’s companies, shopping, and cash inflows and outflows are subject to audit.

You do not lie to your family. You will manage it. If we had won, we would have managed this. If they see a wrong, they should report it to the prosecutor's office. Our conscience is clear. We did not sign these either.

Our civil servant friends who are there now signed them. We should not allow politics to become ugly in Balıkesir. Let Balıkesir be remembered for its beauties, its geography, and its cheese. Let it not be remembered for such ugliness, incompetence, and the literature of victimization,” he stated.