Presidential protection expenses hit a record high

Cevdet Akay, a member of the TBMM Plan and Budget Committee, criticized the significant increases in the budget of the Presidential Protection Department. 

Akay noted that protection expenses, which were 122 million 912 thousand TL in 2018, will rise to 2 billion 872 million 860 thousand TL as of next year. This means that expenditures will increase 23.4-fold within 7 years.

Akay examined the General Directorate of Security 2025 Budget Proposal submitted to the TBMM. 

Accordingly, the initial appropriation for the Presidential Protection Department, which was set at 1 billion 827 million 977 thousand TL for 2024, will reach 2.8 billion TL in 2025. Akay stated that this figure is projected to rise to 3.3 billion TL in 2026 and 3.7 billion TL in 2027.

'INCREASES ARE UNSUSTAINABLE'

CHP's Akay drew attention to this massive increase in protection expenses, saying, "According to official data obtained from the General Directorate of Security's budget appropriation tables, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's protection expenditures have increased by 1,387 percent since 2018, this rate will rise to 2,237 percent in 2025."

Akay emphasized that the allocated budget could pay for 19 thousand 152 monthly pensions or the minimum wage of 14 thousand 85 workers.

Akay continued his criticism by saying, "This amount is equivalent to 292 thousand 828 monthly pensions and the minimum wage of 168 thousand 971 workers in one year. While citizens are living in misery, such an increase in the protection budget is absolutely unacceptable."

News Source: 12punto