Turkish Opposition Leader Slams Government's Seizure of White Meat Companies

Müsavat Dervişoğlu, the leader of Turkey's IYI Party, has strongly condemned the government's decision to appoint trustees to 13 companies operating in the white meat sector. Dervişoğlu criticized the move as a violation of property rights that could precipitate a more significant crisis.

“

Your attitude, which violates the right to property, opens the door to a much larger crisis. We have no objection to distinguishing between the right and the wrong. However; respect for the right to property is essential in the Turkish state tradition. You are not cowboys, and this is not Texas.

"Your attitude, which violates the right to property, opens the door to a much larger crisis," Dervişoğlu stated on social media. He emphasized that while identifying those responsible for wrongdoing is acceptable, the Turkish state tradition fundamentally respects property rights. "You are not cowboys, and this is not Texas," he asserted, pushing back against the government's actions.

Dervişoğlu argued that the government failed to heed the party's proposals for ensuring affordable white meat for consumers. Instead, he contended, their policies have harmed both the sector and the public, predicting that producers will suffer losses and consumers will face higher prices. The government's intervention, he believes, will ultimately exacerbate the economic situation.

“

There were steps that should have been taken so that citizens could buy white meat at affordable prices. We listed them all. You did not listen. With your mistakes, you have victimized both a whole sector and the citizen. Now with these practices of yours; the producer will lose, the citizen will buy white meat at a higher price.

The government, through the Ministry of Justice, stated that the operation was necessary to prevent disruptions in the food supply chain and ensure fair, transparent business practices. Adalet Bakanı (Justice Minister) Akın Gürlek announced that control trustees were appointed to 13 companies accused of violating free competition and inflating prices against consumers. Thirty-two suspects were detained as part of the investigation.

“

control trustees were appointed to 13 companies to ensure that the nation's basic food supply chain is not interrupted and that commercial activities are carried out in a lawful, transparent, and auditable manner.