Report:  Six CHP-run municipalities face seizure for outstanding payroll taxes

The Labor and Social Security Ministry has imposed a seizure on six municipalities governed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) due to unpaid premium debts to the Social Security Institution (SGK), several media reports said on Dec. 16. However, Ankara and Istanbul municipalities denied  the seizure. The action on municipalities in Adana, Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Mersin and Istanbul's Şişli district  had their deposit accounts frozen local media reported.   Ankara Municipality leads the list with the highest premium debt to SGK, totaling 5.7 billion Turkish Liras, followed by İzmir with 5.3 billion liras and Istanbul with 3.3 billion liras. Adana ranks fourth with 3 billion liras, Şişli fifth with 1.8 billion liras and Mersin sixth with 1 billion liras.   Istanbul Municipality, however, denied claims that a specific account was seized.   In his speech during a parliamentary discussion in November, Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan said the total debt of municipalities to SGK has risen to 160 billion liras, or roughly $5bn, less than 0.5% of GDP.   "This increase has become an unsustainable burden," he said.   On the other hand, opposition media claims that AKP-run municipalities have bigger outstanding debts to the Social Security Administration. Other CHP municipalities also under threat of  punitive action for outstanding debts to state institutions claim these were accumulated by their AKP predecessors.  

Opposition responds

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a two-time electoral victory against President Erdoğan’s AKP and a potential 2028 Presidential hopeful, responded to the initiation of seizure proceedings against municipalities, addressing Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan: “Let’s see if you have the courage to shake down one of our citizens. Come on, show us. If you have the guts, step forward and try.” The official Istanbul Municipality account on X (formerly Twitter) clarified that there are currently no freezes on Istanbul’s accounts: “Regarding reports in some media outlets, we would like to clarify:. There is no blockage or seizure on the accounts of İBB or its affiliated companies.”   Similarly, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş clarified that the capital’s main municipal body. Along with its water (ASKİ) and transportation (EGO) subsidiaries, have no Social Security debts. However, six smaller municipal companies under Ankara’s governance are facing account freezes. Yavaş stated: “Despite these politically motivated interventions, our support for public services will not halt. On the contrary, we will increase our services.” Erdogan has adopted a policy of sabotaging  CHP run municipalities at every turn, via probes against alleged terrorist links and fraud, as well as issuing executive orders to grab local powers for his office.   Follow our  English language YouTube videos  @ REAL TURKEY:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpFJB4GFiNkhmpVZQ_d9Rg And content at Twitter: @AtillaEng Facebook:  Real Turkey Channel:   https://www.facebook.com/realturkeychannel/