Censorship of the opposition continues: 6.5 hours for Erdoğan and his candidates on TRT, 67 seconds for Özgür Özel!

TRT, the state broadcaster funded by citizens' taxes, continues to censor the opposition during the local election process.

CHP Deputy Chairman Burhanettin Bulut expressed his reaction by citing TRT's one-day broadcast flow as an example, stating, “TRT is clearly committing a crime.”

Bulut said, “The remote control of TRT, which broadcasts with the taxes of 85 million people, is in the hands of the Palace. Whatever the Palace wants, TRT Haber plays and sings. In one day, TRT Haber gave 6 hours, 35 minutes, and 22 seconds to Erdoğan and AKP candidates in live broadcasts and news bulletins. CHP leader Özgür Özel, on the other hand, could only find 67 seconds of airtime in two bulletins aired at midnight on TRT Haber screens.”

6.5 HOURS FOR ERDOĞAN, MINISTERS, AND AKP CANDIDATES

Bulut noted the following regarding TRT Haber's 24-hour broadcast on March 19:

“Erdoğan, ministers, AKP officials, and mayoral candidates received 6 hours, 35 minutes, and 22 seconds of airtime in TRT Haber's live broadcasts and news bulletins. Live broadcasts accounted for 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 54 seconds of this time. The duration of Erdoğan's live speeches in 4 programs was 1 hour and 45 minutes. TRT Haber has prepared pirate advertisements for the AKP and special spot films for Murat Kurum. TRT Haber, which began airing the ‘Turkey with Our Cities’ commercial films—which describe the achievements of AKP governments—twice a day in mid-February, has increased the number of broadcasts for these pirate commercial films. While these commercial films were aired 11 times on March 19, the total duration of the films, which contain no information about who prepared them, was 38 minutes and 49 seconds.

NO ROOM FOR CHP CANDIDATES ON TRT HABER, ONLY 67 SECONDS FOR ÖZEL!

While Özel found 67 seconds of airtime in night bulletins, CHP's Istanbul candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, Ankara candidate Mansur Yavaş, and İzmir candidate Cemil Tugay could not find even a single second of airtime on TRT Haber screens.

2 MINUTES AND 33 SECONDS FOR AKŞENER

While IYI Party Chairman Meral Akşener appeared on TRT Haber for 2 minutes and 33 seconds in one news report, IYI Party Istanbul candidate Buğra Kavuncu remained on screen for 4 minutes and 24 seconds across 4 news reports. With the start of the election period, TRT, which ignores opposition mayoral candidates other than those of the AKP and the People's Alliance in news bulletins and live broadcasts, has increased the dose of government propaganda with pirate advertisements and spot films. Who prepared these films? How much did they cost to prepare? Under which article of the TRT Law are they being broadcast? Is TRT receiving money for airing these? The TRT management is committing a crime with intent and design, and is thickening its criminal file with new methods every day.”

News Source: 12punto