Parliamentary question submitted following TRT Haber's post about İmamoğlu

CHP Tekirdağ MP Cem Avşar has submitted a parliamentary question to the Office of the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) for Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to answer.

In his motion, Avşar raised criticisms regarding TRT's broadcasting policy and stated the following:

“Contrary to the Constitution and legal regulations, especially in recent years, a severe political bias, a systematic ignoring of opposition parties, and practices that undermine the public's right to receive information have been observed in TRT's broadcasting policies. While adopting an attitude against opposition representatives, the group meetings, press statements, rallies, and public gatherings of opposition parties are mostly not broadcast on TRT's main news bulletins and news channels, despite their news value.

The use of the public budget allocated to TRT solely in favor of the ruling party, and the spending of millions of citizens' taxes on broadcasting that undermines political equality, causes severe damage to the public conscience. The fact that the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, which is obliged to provide impartial and objective public broadcasting, clearly makes biased broadcasts in favor of the ruling party and structures its broadcasting policy in this way creates great discomfort in the public. Furthermore, the spending of these resources, which are financed by public funds, in a manner that is not transparent and does not comply with the principles of effectiveness, efficiency, and economy, creates a constitutional responsibility.”

In his motion, Avşar requested the disclosure of data regarding the broadcasting time allocated to political parties in TRT's news bulletins.

In this context, the following questions were asked:

“What is the distribution of broadcasting time allocated to political parties, party leaders, and their activities in the news bulletins of TRT and its other news outlets over the last three years, according to the parties? What criteria are taken into account in this distribution, and how is it audited? Do you intend to inform the public about this matter?”

PUBLIC RESOURCES TRANSFERRED TO TRT

The motion also asked for details of the resources transferred to TRT from the public budget over the last three years.

Among the questions posed by Avşar were the following:

“What is the total amount of resources transferred to TRT from the public budget in the last three years? How is this resource classified according to expenditure items? What percentage of this resource is provided from the budget, what percentage from the electricity bill share and banderole revenues collected from the public, and what percentage from advertising revenues?”

DEBATE ON IMPARTIALITY AND PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE

Avşar also requested an evaluation of the criticisms voiced in the public sphere regarding TRT's broadcasting policy.

The motion included the following questions:

“What is your Ministry's assessment regarding the criticisms that TRT, which is widely discussed and causes discomfort in the public, does not comply with the principles of autonomy, public interest, and impartiality, and that it violates the broadcasting policy it is required to undertake according to the Constitution and its own Law, and acts with bias? Are there any requests or complaints reaching you regarding the subject?

How do you evaluate, in the context of the 'principle of impartiality' and 'presumption of innocence,' the reporting of allegations on the TRT Haber X account on March 10, 2026, regarding a case currently under trial, which could influence the process, make various accusations against the individuals being tried, cast suspicion on them in the eyes of society, and target them?

Do you think that the publication of the news in question on your broadcasting organ, the TRT Haber X account, is contrary to Article 133 of the Constitution? If it is contrary, what kind of measures have been taken against this constitutional crime committed, and what kind of administrative and judicial proceedings have been initiated against those responsible? If not initiated, do you think that TRT, the most deep-rooted institution of the Republic of Turkey, is being intentionally cast under suspicion?”

TRT POST HAD CAUSED CONTROVERSY

In the justification of the motion, it was also recalled that a post made from TRT Haber's social media account had caused controversy in the public sphere.

The “IMM case” post made on the news channel of TRT, which is financed by the taxes of citizens, had caused reactions.

While CHP Deputy Chairman Burhanettin Bulut emphasized that TRT should be impartial, Istanbul MP Yunus Emre had stated, “A cautionary social media post. And with the taxes of millions of citizens. Stop these lies and report on Mayor Ekrem's 'I want a fair trial' statement.”

News Source: 12punto