YENİ Party marches in Tuzla: Çelik asks about 154 villas and 40 billion lira zoning rent

The YENİ Party Istanbul Provincial Presidency organized a "Respect for the Will of the People" march in Tuzla, where the municipal administration switched from the CHP to the AKP. The crowd gathered in front of the Tuzla Military Recruitment Office and marched to the Tuzla Coastal Ceremonial Square with banners and slogans.

In addition to YENİ Party Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, Istanbul deputies Ali Gökçek and Cemal Enginyurt, district chairs, and provincial executives participated in the march. The Left Party (SOL Parti), the Labor Party (EMEP), and the Patriotic Party (HKP) also supported the action.

Speaking after the march, Cemal Enginyurt reacted to Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl, who switched from the CHP to the AKP. Referring to Bingöl's speech at the AKP district office, Enginyurt criticized mayors who change parties, saying, "He was elected with the legitimate votes of this nation, of Tuzla."

Enginyurt argued that the government is trying to suppress the opposition with pressure policies on municipalities, stating, "We are not afraid, and we express that we are not afraid at all times." Addressing President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his speech, Enginyurt said, "Eren Ali Bingöls will lose, the AKP will lose, and the people will win."

ZONING ALLEGATIONS BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA

YENİ Party Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik brought allegations regarding zoning processes at the Tuzla Municipality to the agenda in his speech. Çelik claimed that during the AKP era, an area that was a park and recreation zone was converted into hobby gardens, and subsequently, 154 illegal villas were built there.

Çelik alleged that instead of initiating legal proceedings regarding the structures in question, Bingöl tried to change the plan notes to convert the area into a residential zone. Addressing Bingöl, Çelik asked, "Tuzla Mayor, why did you try to make these 154 illegal villas and 4 commercial areas official? Why did you try to legitimize them? What is the share of these 154 villas in your transfer?"

Another topic Çelik brought to the agenda was the "floor area ratio (FAR) transfer" practice. Arguing that duplicate FAR transfers were made during the AKP period between 2017 and 2023, Çelik claimed that zoning rights were granted to numerous construction projects based on a single plot of land closed to development.

Stating that hundreds of transactions were made through the same notary for 185 parcels, Çelik claimed that 40 billion lira in zoning rent was generated during this process. "Someone got rich here, someone encroached on the nation's green spaces, and hundreds of illegal structures were built," said Çelik, demanding that the issue be clarified before the public.

In his speech, Çelik also touched upon the deputy mayoral election in the Üsküdar Municipality, claiming that offers were made to municipal council members and stating that these allegations would also emerge if a judicial process were initiated.

Continuing his criticism of mayors who change parties, Çelik argued that the will of the voters in Tuzla, Şile, and Çekmeköy was ignored. "No one should fall into despair," said Çelik, expressing that "the people will win" when the ballot box arrives.

News Source: 12punto