Bolu Mayor ‘won’t step back’ from discriminatory price rises

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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In a statement yesterday (July 26), Tanju Özcan, the Mayor of Bolu province from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), announced that the Municipality would introduce a 10-fold increase to the water bills and solid waste taxes collected from the foreign nationals.

Causing a public outrage with this announcement, Özcan has made another statement today, saying that he will not take a step back.

'We have become a migrant dump'

Speaking to Habertürk TV, Özcan has said:

"I am behind my words. If I have to pay a price, I am ready to pay it. I will never take a step back. I will do what I am supposed to do after this. It is my duty to act as the interpreter of the people. We have turned into a migrant dump. I want them to leave Bolu."

'I won't care if I get reactions from my party'

In response to a question as to whether there are any meetings about him at the CHP, Özcan has said, "No, I have not received any [reactions]. But my party knows this line of mine. I will not care about it either if I do."

Statement by the CHP

Later in the day, the CHP has made a statement about the planned price rises that will specifically affect the foreign nationals and refugees. 

In a written statement about the issue, CHP Vice Chair Seyit Torun has said that Tanju Özcan's "opinions about the price rises are his business."

"The attitude of the CHP was conveyed to him when he contacted our Central Office," the statement of the CHP Vice Chair has read, adding that "opening such an issue to debate, let alone hindering a vital right to life such as water, is poles apart from the party policy of the CHP."

Expressing his wish that the "Municipal Council members of the Bolu Municipality will not take a decision that will oppose" to this policy, CHP's Torun has indicated that when the CHP comes to power, "it will resolve the problem of refugees without aggrieving anyone and will bid farewell to the Syrian guests to their country in safety." He has added that "during the process, the CHP's red line will be to ensure that no person is subjected to discrimination regardless of their race and belief."

Criminal complaint

Shortly after Bolu Mayor Özcan made his statement yesterday, the International Refugee Rights Association has filed a criminal complaint against Tanju Özcan. In a statement posted on social media, the Association has said, "We are once again filing a criminal complaint against this person who wants to punish the migrants in our Bolu province with water, the most vital need, over his new statements full of 'hatred and grudge.' We will personally follow up the legal proceedings."

What happened?

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

In a statement shared on the social media account of the Bolu Municipality as well, Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan 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 would evaluate the situation in the upcoming municipal council meeting next week, Özcan 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 asserted that "the Turkish citizens and foreign nationals will not use water by paying the same price," reiterating that they were poised to raise the water bills and the solid waste tax by 10 times. 

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)