Trustees sold 517 properties in Van; municipality debt surged from 8 billion to 25 billion lira

During the 10-year trusteeship period of Van Metropolitan Municipality, 517 properties were disposed of; the municipality's debt during the same period soared from 8 billion lira to 25 billion lira — or 25 quadrillion in old currency.

DEM Party Van Deputy Zülküf Uçar presented the figures in detail to the TBMM General Assembly: in addition to the central district, 25 properties were sold in Edremit and 270 in İpekyolu. Since 2016, three successive Van Governors have been appointed as trustees; three elected municipal mayors were dismissed on terrorism-related grounds.

Uçar drew a comparison to illustrate the debt increase, referencing the amount that former minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was accused of embezzling from the fund: the debt accumulated during the trusteeship period reached 12 times that figure. İller Bankası is not extending credit to the municipality; resources have also been seized due to SGK debts.

The DEM Party notes that it took over the municipalities with 8 billion lira in debt following the 2024 elections. Traffic, hospital, and transportation problems in Van have remained unresolved since the trusteeship period.