Turkish mayor defends 7 million lira luxury car purchase: 'They begrudged us a piece-of-shit car'

Kelkit Mayor Ünal Yılmaz defended his purchase of a 2025 Audi A6, valued at approximately 7 million lira ($215,000), calling it a "three-penny car" and suggesting the public should expect their leaders to have better.

"Did they begrudge Kelkit Municipality a 2025 model, piece-of-shit car?" Yılmaz asked during a public forum, according to Cumhuriyet newspaper. He argued that the town's high standing should be reflected in its leadership's possessions. "The people of Kelkit should have said, 'My mayor should get a better one.' I'll sell it and buy a better one," he added, questioning the focus on the car's cost.

Yılmaz suggested the criticism was part of a plot to weaken Kelkit. "This isn't about the car; this is a game, a conspiracy to prevent unity in Kelkit, to make Kelkit weaker," he stated. He contrasted the car purchase with the municipality's essential services, such as a water truck and a modern meat transport vehicle for their facilities.

The mayor's remarks quickly became a trending topic on social media, sparking debate about public spending and the expectations placed on elected officials in Turkey.