Bolu Municipality to introduce 10-fold increase in refugees' water bills

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Tanju Özcan, the Mayor of Bolu from the Republican People's Party (CHP), has announced that the water bills and the solid waste tax collected from foreign nationals residing in Bolu will be hiked by 10 times. 

In a statement shared on the social media account of the Bolu Municipality as well, Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan has stated, "Man, you cut the social aid, you tell them, 'I am not giving you a workplace license.' They are still not leaving. We have decided to take new measures."

Noting that they will evaluate the situation in the upcoming municipal council meeting next week, Özcan has said, "Whoever is our subscriber as foreign nationals, we will introduce a 10-fold increase to some prices, especially to the water prices and solid waste prices."

Tanju has asserted that "the Turkish citizens and foreign nationals will not use water by paying the same price," reiterating that they are poised to raise the water bills and the solid waste tax by 10 times.

'We want them to leave'

Indicating that "they want the foreign nationals to leave", Özcan has said, "Why are we doing this? Because we want them to leave. We say that they have overstayed their welcome. I don't have the power to force them to leave the province by the force of the municipal police." 

Referring to President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bolu Mayor Özcan has said, "At one point, Mr. Erdoğan got angry. When the borders were opened, we ensured that the busses were free of charge and we sent the people. We are ready to send them now as well. Let us send them. Let's let them go."

'They don't spare wearing Nike'

"What I resent is that while my soldiers are falling martyrs, hulky guys with their hair gelled do not do anything, they are sitting at the park till the evening. They are looking at the wives and daughters of people," the Bolu Mayor has claimed, adding, "You don't do military service in this country, you don't pay taxes and the poor of my country will go to bed hungry while you do not spare wearing Nike brand shoes."

Announcing that the price rises will apply to all foreign nationals in Bolu, Özcan has said, "They can go and file a lawsuit. I am a legist. I explain the justification and reason for the decision I have taken. I know that some people will file a criminal complaint against me after this statement. Some will talk about human rights again. They will call me a 'fascist.' I don't care at all."

After the last local elections in Turkey on March 31, 2019, Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan gave an instruction to "cut the social aid offered to foreign nationals", which also caused a public outrage. (AÖ/SD)