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SOL Party Reacts to Hospital Privatization in Eskişehir

SOL Party Reacts to Hospital Privatization in Eskişehir

From Cumhuriyet · (11m ago) Turkish Critical tone

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The SOL Party criticizes the privatization of the Eskişehir Yunusemre State Hospital's 2 Eylül Service Building, announced via a Presidential decree.
  • The party argues that the privatization of this historically significant hospital, dating back to 1920, is a betrayal of public assets by the ruling AKP government.
  • SOL Party spokesperson Hüseyin Öztürk asserts that the hospital belongs to the people of Eskişehir and condemns the sale as a move benefiting capital and rent-seeking groups.

As reported by Cumhuriyet, the SOL Party has voiced strong opposition to the privatization of the Eskişehir Yunusemre State Hospital's 2 Eylül Service Building. This decision, formalized through a Presidential decree, has ignited criticism from the party, which views it as another instance of the ruling AKP government "handing over public assets to capital."

Hüseyin Öztürk, the spokesperson for SOL Party in Eskişehir, emphasized the deep historical and cultural significance of the hospital, often referred to as the 'Air Hospital.' He stated that its privatization is not just an economic decision but a blow to the collective memory of Eskişehir and the Republic itself, given its origins trace back to 1920.

AKP iktidarı halkın mallarını, sermayeye peşkeş çekmeye devam ediyor.

— Hüseyin ÖztürkSOL Party Eskişehir Spokesperson Hüseyin Öztürk criticizes the government's policy of privatizing public assets.

The SOL Party's stance is rooted in a broader critique of the AKP's governance, accusing the party of systematically dismantling the gains of the Republic through privatization. They argue that the revenue generated from such sales is falsely presented as a means to finance health services, when in reality, it serves the interests of capital and rent-seeking entities.

From our perspective at Cumhuriyet, this privatization represents a continued erosion of public services and historical heritage. The hospital is more than just buildings; it's a symbol of the Republic's commitment to its citizens. Handing it over to private interests, especially one with such a long and storied past, is unacceptable and goes against the foundational principles of public welfare that the Republic was built upon. This is not merely a local issue; it's a national concern about the direction of public assets and historical preservation.

The sale of the Eskişehir Air Hospital, which has a history as old as the Republic and is equally important, under the guise of privatization, is unacceptable.

— Hüseyin ÖztürkHüseyin Öztürk condemns the privatization of the historic hospital, emphasizing its value to the people of Eskişehir.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.