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The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipal Council has convened for the first time after the repeat elections on June 23.
Chaired by İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu yesterday (July 8), the meeting was aired live on the social media account of İmamoğlu and, as of 10 a.m. today, the video was watched by almost 700 thousand people.
Disputes between AKP and CHP groups
During the meeting chaired by İmamoğlu, disputes erupted between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) groups.
Mayor İmamoğlu from the CHP made a presentation entitled "The Reason of Uneconomical and Excessive Increase in Expenses of the Municipality", where he analyzed the incomes and expenses of the municipality.
After the opening speech of İmamoğlu, AKP Group Chair Tevfik Göksu took the floor. Listing the projects and services offered to İstanbul during the AKP period, Göksu argued that the allegations of corruption are groundless.
Stating that they will support every project that would benefit İstanbulites, Göksu said, "We will not prevent them as you did in the past."
Presentation on financial condition of municipality
In his presentation on "the reason of uneconomical and excessive increase in expenses of the municipality," Mayor İmamoğlu described the current economic condition of the municipality as "a total disaster."
"The budget was made by leaning on the central government, thinking that they would not be called to account", İmamoğlu indicated further.
According to the presentation of İmamoğlu, the Treasury allocated 980 million Turkish Lira (TRY) to the Municipality to be used in July; however, the cash in question has been used up in one week. Also, by the end of the year, the budget deficit will be no less than 7.2 billion TRY and the expense-income gap might increase to 5.8 billion TRY.
İmamoğlu also informed that when they took over the municipality, it had 7 million TRY in its deposit and had an overdue debt of 5.8 billion TRY. (HA/SD)
