Trustee-run Van Municipality covers iftar dinner costs for Islamic association of Erdoğan’s son as part of protocol

A recently signed protocol by the government-appointed trustee-run Van Municipality dictates to cover the Erdoğan-linked TÜGVA social activities for the upcoming five years.

Saturday March 23 2024 03:20 pm

Photo: Politikyol

Duvar English

The Turkish Youth Association (TÜGVA) requested reimbursement from the trustee-run Van Municipality for expenses related to an iftar dinner event held at a hotel in Edremit located alongside Lake Van on March 17, according to reporting by Mesopotamia Agency on March 23.

TÜGVA, founded by Bilal Erdoğan, son of the Turkish President and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, based their request on an agreement signed in August 2023, stipulating that the municipality is obliged to cover costs for social activities organized by TÜGVA for the upcoming five years.

The Van municipality paid for the food, transportation, and other related expenses upon the reimbursement request.

The event at the lakeside hotel was joined by, amongst others, TÜGVA Deputy Chairperson Selim Özaltun, Van Mayor Ozan Balcı, AKP Provincial Chairperson Emre Güray, AKP Van Deputy Burhan Kayatürk, and AKP Van Mayor candidate Abdulahat Arvas.

Van Municipality has been run by a government-appointed trustee since 2019, following a widescale ousting of democratically elected People’s Democratic Party (HDP)’s mayors in the region.

Meanwhile, the Erdoğan-linked TÜGVA foundation allegedly uses its influence to install affiliated people in high government positions.

Moreover, the foundation’s executives are criticized for living lavish lifestyles.

(English version by Wouter Massink)