Backlash against Bayram's remarks from figures close to the government

Statements made by AKP İstanbul MP Serkan Bayram during a live broadcast on NOW TV have drawn criticism from several figures known for their proximity to the government.

Commenting on the fund investigation, Bayram stated that the financial transactions mentioned in the probe must be clarified with documentation. Bayram said, "One says they deposited it, the other says they didn't. My friend, the Minister of Finance has opened an account. If you deposited it, you send the receipt and present it to the public," he stated.

Arguing that the investigation should not be limited to specific names, Bayram said, "They say there are deputy chairmen involved, they say there are people from the bureaucracy, they say there are deputy ministers involved. Whoever is in this, let them be purged. Let our party be truly cleared."

Bayram also emphasized justice in his speech. "There is no investment where there is no justice. Foreign capital does not come, and it is not coming; it is fleeing," said Bayram, expressing his expectation for transparency in controversial cases.

In the same broadcast, Bayram also criticized the detention methods used in operations against mayors, saying, "It's a pity, a mayor has been elected. We take them in the morning, why are we taking them? If you summoned them, they would come anyway. This applies to all our mayors," he said.

BACKLASH FROM FIGURES CLOSE TO THE GOVERNMENT

Journalist Adem Metan reacted to Bayram's statements without naming him directly. Metan argued that while Bayram wanted to "throw a stone in the right direction," he ended up "targeting all the windows of the house," and stated that such issues should primarily be addressed through internal party mechanisms.

Metan assessed that "The AK Party is a political party that has its own internal audit mechanisms and operates disciplinary processes when necessary," and expressed that he did not find it appropriate for criticisms from within the party to be voiced in public.

Cahit Tuz, who served as the Prime Ministry Press Advisor before the Presidential Government System, attacked Bayram with harsher words. Tuz said, "An AK Party MP cannot use these expressions. At most, in the words of our President, they could be a Trojan horse that has infiltrated the AK Party."

Tuz claimed that Bayram's words dragged the AKP onto a ground that accuses it of corruption. He also questioned Bayram as to why he made his statements on NOW TV and what the purpose of this outburst was as the country enters an election process.

News Source: 12punto