Erkan Baş's statement on 'candidacy fees': 'Unfortunately, we must not forget that money is also an influential actor'

Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Chairman Erkan Baş made statements on his party's "This Election is That Election" program.

"WE DO FOR A FEW THOUSAND LIRA WHAT OTHER PARTIES DO WITH MILLIONS"

Speaking about the candidacy fee, Baş used the following expressions:

"We are trying to eliminate the dominance of 1 money and 2 religion in politics. Among the parties entering this election with a certain claim, only TİP does not receive Treasury aid. And since our founding, we are a party that carries out political activities with the support of our members and citizens. We want to dismantle capitalism, but the elections we enter are held within the boundaries of the system, and unfortunately, we must not forget that money is also an influential actor. We do for a few thousand lira what other parties do with millions, but in the end, we also need those few thousand lira.

Let me also say this: 'Any friend of ours who wants to be a candidate from TİP or whose candidacy is proposed by the relevant provincial or district organization will not be unable to run because they lack money...' Such a thing is impossible. It is an attitude completely contrary to our principles." 

CANDIDACY FEE

According to the statement made by the Workers' Party of Turkey, the application requirements for candidacy for the local government elections had been determined. The candidacy fee was among the established conditions. 

A fee of 30,000 TL was set for Metropolitan Mayoral Candidacy, 20,000 TL for Provincial Mayoral Candidacy, 15,000 TL for Metropolitan District Mayoral Candidacy, 10,000 TL for Non-Metropolitan District Mayoral Candidacy, 7,500 TL for Town Mayoral Candidacy, 2,000 TL for Municipal Council Membership Candidacy, and 3,000 TL for Provincial General Assembly Membership Candidacy.

Furthermore, it was stated that half of the announced application fee would be collected from women, LGBTI+ individuals, youth under 25, and those with a health board report indicating a disability rate of 40% or higher.

News Source: 12punto