Scholarship response from Minister Bak after 10 months... Reaction from Deniz Yücel: 'They both violated the Constitution and confessed it'

NEW Party Izmir Deputy Deniz Yücel, in his parliamentary question submitted to the Presidency of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on January 21, 2026, brought up the issue of increasing student scholarships and education loans from 3 thousand liras to 4 thousand liras.

The proposal, which was requested to be answered by the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, was answered 10 months later.

In his response, Minister Bak stated that scholarships and education loans were increased by 33 percent. Reacting to the delay in the response and the inadequacy of the increase, Yücel drew attention to the economic problems experienced by the students.

"OBTAINING HIGHER EDUCATION HAS BECOME A LUXURY"

Yücel stated that the monthly increase of one thousand lira in student scholarships and loans corresponds to approximately 33 lira per day, and used the following expressions:

"At the beginning of the year, we harshly criticized the increase of 1,000 lira per month and 33 lira per day in scholarships and education loans given to support students who cannot even meet their most basic needs such as nutrition, shelter and transportation. However, when we look at it 10 months later, we see that there is no longer that increase to criticize. The new raise period is coming, they do not bother to answer the questions on time."

Arguing that students' financial difficulties are getting worse, Yücel said that the government has not taken any steps to improve the economic conditions of students in the last 10 months.

Stating that families cannot provide financial support to their children, Yücel said, "How much of 28 thousand 75 lira can a parent working for minimum wage give to his child? How much of his 23 thousand lira salary can a retired parent send to his child? Getting higher education has become a luxury in AKP Turkey."

"THEY WANT HIM TO GET 33 LIRA PER DAY AND NOT TALK"

Arguing that the Parliament's control mechanisms have been neutralized as well as the economic problems experienced by the students, Yücel said, "They do not have a cure for the students' problems, and they do not even tolerate being inspected on this issue. They want no one to question, ask questions, get 33 liras a day and not talk."

"IN FOUR SENTENCES THEY VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION AND CONFESSED STUDENT POVERTY"

Reminding that the parliamentary questions must be answered within 15 days, Yücel criticized Minister Bak's response after 10 months.

Yücel continued his statement with the following words:

"We ask, 'Student scholarships have been increased by 33 liras per day. On what basis is this determined?' They answer, 'We have increased 33 percent.' They do not even allow the use of this control mechanism, which serves the citizens' right to information, makes their problems visible, and questions how public resources are used."

Claiming that the government does not comply with the Parliament's control and the Constitution, Yücel said, "They do not respect the national will, they do not care even though it is constitutionally guaranteed to be answered within 15 days. They have no intention of complying with the Constitution. In four sentences, they both violated the Constitution and admitted student poverty. The answers given by the lawless and uncontrollable AKP government to our questions are nothing but a mockery of the mind of the nation."