HDP submits parliament motion for inquiry of president’s discretionary fund

ANKARA

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The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) submitted a parliamentary motion on July 30 for an inquiry into the discretionary fund provided to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

In a state of law ruled by parliamentary democracy, all public works and executive functions should be practiced within legal boundaries, the HDP’s petition read, stressing the necessity for law and transparency. 

A total of 3 billion Turkish Liras in funds provided for the president that is not the subject of public oversight is one aspect of the unacceptable, non-legal nature of the discretionary fund, read the petition. 

The HDP also demanded an investigation into allegations that this fund is being used to pay for covert military activities in Syria, as well as that is being used to establish a youth branch attached to the presidency.

The HDP asked not only to disclose the expenditures of the fund, but also demanded a road map to cancel it.

A regulation granting a discretionary fund for the presidency was passed as part of a government-sponsored omnibus bill in the General Assembly of the Turkish parliament on March 27.

The president can use the fund “for state necessities that contain discreet intelligence and defense services; the national security and higher interests of the state; political, social and cultural purposes and extraordinary services,” according to the regulation passed in parliament, which made changes to the Public Finance Management and Control Law, which provides the discretionary fund for the prime ministry.