İYİ Party's criticism of the 'Defense Industry Fund': 'Let it not be a second TRT case'

The AKP has submitted a new tax bill to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) presidency, prepared to provide additional resources to the Defense Industry Support Fund. 

The proposal envisions additional deductions from credit card holders, real estate transactions, vehicle purchases and sales, and many other operations. 

İYİ Party Denizli MP Yasin Öztürk stated in an interview with T24 that the proposal raises serious questions, particularly regarding the Defense Industry Agency's lack of oversight in resource transfers.

'LET IT NOT BE A SECOND TRT CASE'

In his statement, Yasin Öztürk said, "We have seen that funds transferred to TRT were given to individuals close to the government for film and documentary production. We are concerned that a similar situation might occur with the Defense Industry Support Fund." Öztürk emphasized that the funds created once the proposal enters into force must be kept under oversight.

'COURT OF ACCOUNTS OVERSIGHT IS ESSENTIAL'

Stating that the subsidiaries established by the Defense Industry Agency to provide financing to private defense industry companies should be subject to the oversight of the Court of Accounts (Sayıştay), Öztürk said, "There was an earthquake, and phones did not work in the earthquake zone for weeks. What did the ULAK company, established for the defense industry, do during this process? Are these companies actually being audited? It is unknown to whom this money is transferred or which projects are being financed. As in the TRT example, we are concerned that these funds will be transferred to pro-government companies," he expressed.

(İYİ Party Denizli MP Yasin Öztürk)

'I WILL SUBMIT A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION TO THE TBMM'

Expressing that the public is always ready to make sacrifices for the defense industry, Öztürk said, "There are major question marks regarding where this money is spent. The expenditure of these funds must absolutely be audited." 

Stating that he will submit a parliamentary question to the TBMM regarding the issue on Monday, Öztürk made the following statement:

"How is the fate, financial tracking, and oversight of the partnerships established through the Defense Industry Agency's subsidiaries conducted? How are the budgets of companies that do not provide long-term partnerships tracked? The Turkish public will always do its part for the defense industry, but we have serious doubts about how and where this money is spent. Furthermore, a credit card limit is a debt; taxes cannot be levied on debt."

News Source: 12punto