YENİ Party reacts to bridge and highway privatization: The state is under the burden of interest

YENİ Party Istanbul MP Özgür Karabat criticized the government's economic policies, focusing on the budget deficit, interest expenses, and the increasing debt burden on citizens. Karabat also reacted to the process regarding the transfer of operating rights for bridges and highways.

In a statement on his social media account, Karabat noted that the central government's interest expenses reached approximately 1.79 trillion TL in the first 7 months of 2026. Karabat stated that the interest payment in July alone was 326.8 billion TL, and the budget deficit in the January-July period rose to 1.32 trillion TL.

Arguing that the budget has not recovered despite high interest payments, Karabat assessed, "The state is paying high interest on one hand, and continues to run a deficit on the other. The debt-interest-deficit cycle is becoming increasingly severe."

THIS IS CALLED A SALE

Drawing attention to the indebtedness of citizens, Karabat said that debts in individual loans and credit cards that have fallen into legal follow-up reached 379 billion TL in June, with an annual increase of 79 percent. He reported that the number of people who entered legal follow-up due to credit or credit card debt in June was 297 thousand.

Karabat also criticized statements that the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, and highways would not be sold, but that their operating rights would be transferred for 30 years. "They are playing with words by saying they won't be sold. But you cannot fool anyone; this is called a sale," he said.

Arguing that the transfer of revenue-generating public infrastructure means giving up tomorrow's income for today's budget needs, Karabat used the phrase, "The AKP could not get enough of selling." Karabat claimed that more than 65 billion dollars of the approximately 75 billion dollars in privatizations in the history of the Republic were carried out during the AKP era.

Describing the emerging picture as "grave," Karabat said that the citizen's debt burden is increasing, while the state remains under the pressure of interest. Stating that the government is seeking a solution in privatizing revenue-generating public assets, Karabat argued that this demonstrates the failure of the implemented economic policy.