YENİ Party attacks government over privatization: ‘The AKP can’t stop selling’

YENİ Party Istanbul lawmaker Özgür Karabat has accused the government of turning to privatization as debt and interest costs weigh on Turkey’s finances.

Karabat said the central government paid 1.79 trillion lira in interest during the first seven months of 2026. He also said the budget deficit had reached 1.32 trillion lira.

He criticized the planned transfer of operating rights for bridges and highways, presenting it as another step in the disposal of public assets that generate revenue.

“Citizens are taking on debt, the state is being crushed under the burden of interest, and the planned solution is to sell revenue-generating public assets,” Karabat said. His comments framed the privatization plans as a response to economic pressure rather than a solution to it.

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Citizens are taking on debt, the state is being crushed under the burden of interest, and the planned solution is to sell revenue-generating public assets.