Özgür Özel warns of bridge and motorway privatization: “We will bring them all back under state control next year”

Özgür Özel used a speech in Edirne to issue a direct warning over the planned privatization of Turkey’s bridges and motorways, including Istanbul’s 15 July Martyrs Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.

The YENİ Party leader said he had raised the issue months ago but received no response. He claimed that foreign parties later inspected the bridges and carried out measurements and calculations on the motorways, while the government remained silent. “Last night, Erdoğan quietly signed it,” Özel said.

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Last night, Erdoğan quietly signed it.

Özel argued that privatization would impose heavy costs on the public. He said low-cost motorways could become five times more expensive, while Istanbul’s first and second bridges could cost at least twice as much to use. “They are slaughtering the goose that lays the golden eggs,” he said.

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They are slaughtering the goose that lays the golden eggs.

He also addressed potential bidders, arguing that the deal would allow them to secure 25 years of revenue at a price equivalent to five years of current income, or nearly one and a half to two years of income after toll increases. “We will come next year, we will come to power. We will bring all the motorways back under state control,” he said.

Özel said a YENİ Party government would continue building infrastructure needed by the public, but would remove all toll booths from the motorways.

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We will come next year, we will come to power. We will bring all the motorways back under state control.