Statement from Silivri Mayor Bora Balcıoğlu regarding municipal debts

Silivri Mayor Bora Balcıoğlu stated in a written announcement that reports published in some local newspapers and websites distorted the statements made by CHP Deputy Chairman Gökan Zeybek regarding municipal debts. Balcıoğlu noted that claims suggesting the municipality's debt is actually 462 million TL are misleading and that the total debt is 1 billion 503 million 295 thousand TL.

Stating that members of the press should adopt a more careful and responsible approach to journalism to prevent the repetition of misleading news, Balcıoğlu's statement is as follows:

"In recent days, reports published in some local newspapers and websites have distorted the statements of our CHP Deputy Chairman Mr. Gökan Zeybek, using misleading expressions suggesting that the claim that Silivri Municipality's debts are 1 billion 503 million 295 thousand TL is incorrect and that this debt is actually 462 million TL. This situation leads to a major misunderstanding in the public eye and an unfair perception operation.

DEBTS ARE ONLY SGK AND TAX DEBTS

"First of all, it is not difficult to understand the purpose of those who occupy the public agenda with such misleading and intentional news. In his press statement, our Deputy Chairman Mr. Gökan Zeybek drew attention only to the SGK (Social Security Institution) and tax debts of municipalities won by the CHP. Other debts were not included in this calculation. In other words, the figures announced do not cover the total debt of the municipalities, but only the SGK and tax debts. For example, Keçiören Municipality announced its actual debt as 1 billion 755 million TL. However, our Deputy Chairman stated the SGK and tax debts of Keçiören Municipality as 1 billion 398 million TL. That is, these debts are only SGK and tax debts, not the total debt burden.

As for Silivri Municipality, our total debt burden is 1 billion 503 million 295 thousand TL. I underline once again: Our debt burden is 1 billion 503 million 295 thousand TL, and this debt burden includes İller Bank, restructuring, public institution shares, personnel compensation, company debts, guarantees and deposits, tax office, and municipal subsidiary debts. All of these items constitute our total debt burden.

Our goal is to inform the public correctly and to correct these false perceptions with firm language. We demand that the relevant newspapers immediately correct the published misinformation and inform the public accurately. Let no one try to steal the minds and time of the people of Silivri with such perception games. The people of Silivri have had enough of such manipulations! I suggest that those who do not want to see this reality look back at the March 31 election results and put their hats on their laps and think. Those who engage in ridiculous acts to be read cannot go beyond making themselves look ridiculous. Finally, we expect members of the press to adopt a more careful and responsible approach to journalism to prevent the repetition of such misleading news. We must not forget that the press, acting with the principles of accuracy, transparency, and responsibility, is the foundation of our democracy."