Voting intervention in Üsküdar and criticism of the economy from CHP's Zeynel Emre

NEW Party Spokesperson Zeynel Emre stated that there was external intervention in the deputy mayoral vote held after the arrest of Mayor Sinem Dedetaş in Üsküdar Municipality, which was won with 50 percent of the votes in the local elections of March 31, 2024.

Emre claimed that pressure and promises were made to the members of the parliament through judicial processes; He stated that one council member declared that he voted in exchange for the promise of release for his fugitive son, and that another member voted for the release of his detained child, and noted that the process was shaped by administrative court decisions and governorship instructions.

"MEDIUM-TERM PROGRAM TARGETS WRITTEN AT THE DESK ARE NOT MEETING"

Stating that the economic programs announced by the government do not reflect the facts, Emre touched upon the 2027-2029 Medium Term Program targets and pointed out the inconsistency between past predictions and actual data:

"A new Medium-Term Plan has been announced for the 2027-2029 period. We have not seen any other prediction that was calculated and announced during this period of power. They make the numbers as if on a desk and none of them match. Now I will give you the figures. What did they say in 2023? When we came to 2026, they said inflation was 8.5 percent. Because they give raises to civil servants, minimum wage earners and retirees based on these figures. In 2024, "They revised it to 9.7. They increased it to 16 in 2025. Today, they updated that target to 28.4 for the 2026 target."

Drawing attention to the gap between the official inflation announced and the compulsory expenses experienced by the people, Emre said:

"You know, they say, 'We fought hard against inflation, we have made significant progress.' Friends, as of August, our inflation is 31.51 percent. I mean, according to the controversial TÜİK figures. Well, when we look at the previous year's figure, it is 32. So there is not even a difference to be taken seriously. What kind of inflation success? When we look at the inflation that concerns the citizens, the picture is much more terrible. The citizen already has to sacrifice his clothing, and he does. Is he postponing the purchase of durable goods? He is postponing it." Of course, he does not have the money for this. But there are figures that he spends directly on his daily life, especially food, transportation, and accommodation. For example, the rent increase is 54 percent. What will he do if he does not cover this? Food inflation is very high. Therefore, these calculations and the increases given accordingly will continue to impoverish our people even more.

Stating that the salary increases will decrease according to the MTP projections in question, Emre said, "Now, when calculated according to these figures, that is, according to this MTP, in the coming period, they will increase the salaries of workers and independent workers, that is, Bag-Kur retirees, by 9 percent. Because that is how they do the calculations. According to public employees, with the 5 percent increase, they will increase the inflation difference by 1.9 percent, 7 percent. The minimum wage will also be increased according to these figures. In other words, it will no longer be a salary." made his assessment.

"The gears are stopping in the industry: the manufacturing sector is on the verge of contraction"

Zeynel Emre stated that the bad course of the economy hit not only the household but also the production side, and stated that the manufacturing sector gave signals of contraction through official data:

"Let's come to the manufacturing part of the matter, where we are now. Look, I am explaining it according to the official document information announced regarding each heading we have mentioned. Therefore, there is nothing to object. Now, every month, the Istanbul Chamber of Industry announces the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which shows the monthly change in production, new orders, employment, stock and supply conditions in the manufacturing sector. This is an index. If the figure announced in this index is over 50, it indicates that the growth in the manufacturing sector is stagnant, if it is 50, it indicates a stagnant situation, and if it is below 50, it is a sign of "It indicates a contraction. Turkey's manufacturing industry is in an unprecedented contraction period in its recent history. How? In August, this index was announced as 48.1 percent. And the conditions in the manufacturing sector were announced below 50 for the 29th month in a row. In other words, it is the longest and uninterrupted contraction since June 2005. As a country, we are heading towards the brink of a very big crisis."

"EVERYWHERE IS A CONSTRUCTION SITE BUT THE PEOPLE WERE MADE TENANTS: HOME OWNERSHIP DROPPED FROM 73 TO 56 PERCENT"

Revealing the bitter truth behind the government's "housing projects" discourse with TÜİK data, Emre stated that housing policies feed profit circles instead of making citizens homeowners:

"Now, everywhere has turned into a construction site. Everywhere we go to cities, you see construction. The government constantly says '100 thousand housing projects, oh 300 thousand housing projects'... We have been seeing a construction-based activity since its arrival, right? When you look at it like this, you probably say that there are no tenants left in a country that does so much construction. So, what do the numbers say? I will tell you again according to TÜİK figures: In 2014, 61 percent of the population owned the house they lived in. Currently How much is it? 57 percent. So, what's going on, dear friends? Those who have money are also adding money to their income. People are becoming richer. Today, in 2002, in the old Türkiye, the rate of homeownership was 73 percent. Look, we have dropped from 73 percent to 56 percent. Today, the rate of homeownership in the world is 65 percent. Look, for example, in our neighbor Greece, it is 68 percent. In other words, these houses are being built, but this goes into the pockets of a certain minority."

"THEY PROMISED MY FAILURE SON, I VOTED"

Zeynel Emre, who chronologically explained the judicial and political negotiations behind the management change in Üsküdar Municipality, recalled the March 31 election results and conveyed the process:

"This country has seen many elections, many governments have come and gone. But it has never seen a period in which such evil, such immorality and such rudeness took place in politics. An election has just been held in Üsküdar and it has been concluded. Üsküdar Municipality... Dear friends, in the 2024 election in Üsküdar, in the election of March 31, 2024, the votes we received are 50 percent. The votes of the AKP-MHP bloc opposite us are 50 percent. 43. We won with a difference of seven points. The number of council members we have is 13 from AK Party, 4 from MHP; 17 to 29. There was such a big theft that I will tell you with the dates. First, there was an operation in Üsküdar Municipality on April 7. After the operation, there were news on various channels, television programs and social media that our Mayor Sinem Dedetaş would be arrested. "He was detained in July, and our esteemed Mayor was arrested unjustly on July 31, with absurd allegations, evidence that cannot be taken seriously, and evidence that has no legal basis."

Describing the voting rounds and the suspicious transfer of votes in the vice presidential election held 5 days after the arrest, Emre announced the open confession of Assembly Member Ahmet Başbaydar with the following words:

"Five days later, the deputy mayor election was held. While the mayoral election was being held there, the legislation states: 31 votes are required to be elected in the first and second rounds. In the second round, 31 votes, in the first and second rounds. In the third round, 24. In the first round, we received 26 votes, one was deemed invalid, our opponent received 17 votes. In the second round, we received 27 votes. When the third round was held, 5 of us suddenly voted for the other side. Thereupon, the Provincial Mayor and the friends there said: 'Oh, what? How can one betray the will given by the people of Üsküdar? Whoever among us did this should say something or leave? Can such a theft of will be done? Someone came out and said: 'My son is on the run abroad. They promised my son, they promised me. If I vote for them, my son will come and be free here.' Who says this and where? In front of everyone, that is, there are 40 people, Council Member Ahmet Başbaydar speaks in the place where 40 people are present. There are 40 people. It can be controlled, we don't know, do we? Is his child really wanted abroad? His child was wanted by KCK, and they promised to release him. Another name leaves without any explanation; "We learn that while her child was detained inside, she was released a few days before this vote."