Turkish opposition blasts proposal for new gov't environmental agency as 'corrupt, nepotistic scheme'
Turkey's three opposition parties have denounced a recent proposal by the AKP for the establishment of the Turkey Environmental Agency, which they claim will pave the way for corruption and nepotism. "It runs parallel or even rival to the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning in terms of its inspection authority but it itself is exempt from both internal and external inspection,” the CHP said.
Nergis Demirkaya / DUVAR
Turkey's three opposition parties have denounced a recent proposal by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the establishment of the Turkey Environmental Agency, which they claim will pave the way for corruption and nepotism.
“A new public institution is being established with a lot of authority, staff and budget without responsibility and with financial exemptions. It runs parallel or even rival to the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning in terms of its inspection authority but it itself is exempt from both internal and external inspection,” said the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in a written parliamentary evaluation.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) voiced concerns over the fact that the proposed agency will have the authority to collect donations.
“Organizing a donation institution for an area such as the environment where massive natural destruction is taking place alongside major profit gains will pave the way for bribes that resemble donations,” the HDP said in its own evaluation.
The right-wing opposition Good (İYİ) Party raised criticism over the lack of a specified minimum age or education requirement to join the proposed seven-member board of directors or the 11-member advisory board, positions that would be held for terms of three years.
“The fact that these qualities and criteria were not determined in the establishment of such a large institution has created concerns that it will become a new center for nepotism and a political patronage system in the upcoming period,” the party said.