Turkish MP criticizes bureaucrats attending AK Party event

A political controversy has emerged in Akhisar, Turkey, following a “Muhtars Meeting and Solution Workshop” organized by the AK Party district presidency on September 29. The event saw significant participation from state bureaucrats, including the Akhisar District Governor, Manisa Deputy Murat Baybatur, and regional directors from the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), highways, and forestry departments.

Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu, a Manisa Deputy from the YENİ Party and member of the TBMM Plan and Budget Commission, criticized the gathering, stating that while muhtars may attend political events, the presence of state bureaucrats is inappropriate. Bakırlıoğlu described the situation as an image of a “party state” and reported that he contacted both the Manisa Governor and the Akhisar District Governor to express his concerns regarding the neutrality of public officials.

Further scrutiny was directed at the promotional materials used for the event, which reportedly featured the official emblem of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Bakırlıoğlu questioned whether similar bureaucrats would attend an event organized by an opposition party, emphasizing that the impartiality of public servants is a fundamental principle of state administration.