Mayor of Istanbul: The reason for poverty in this country is not municipalities, but the government

Istanbul Metropolitan (IBB) Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said, “The increases made by the municipality are the result. The reason is the government, which failed to fight inflation, raised electricity and natural gas.” Electronic tickets, taxi, minibus and shuttle fares were increased by 40 percent, In Istanbul.

Mayor of Istanbul responded to announcement made by Esenler Mayor (AK Party) that AK party froup would submit an offer to prevent this hike from being applied to students.  Imamoglu said, “It is not possible if you (government) have raised diesel fuel by about 110 percent in just 4 months. IETT’s (Transportation company of the municipality) daily deficit has started to increase to 12-13 million TL. IBB has to subsidize 550-600 million pounds per month. This corresponds tothe 25 percent budget of the municipality. It is impossible to cope with this”.

“The municipality’s hikes are the result”

Speaking on Halk TV, Imamoglu continued: “The hikes that the municipality has made are the result. The reason is the government which has failed to fight inflation, has raised electricity and natural gas. The reason for poverty in this country is not municipalities, but the government.”