Click to read the article in Turkish
The Court of Accounts released its "Presidency Audit Report of Court of Accounts for 2018" yesterday (September 24).
According to the table of operating results appended to the report, there is an increase in several expense items of the Presidency, ranging from kitchen and cleaning to clothing, repair and maintenance.
While the total expense of the Presidency was 362 million Turkish Lira (TRY)* in 2017, this figure has increased by 160 percent in 2018, exceeding 943 million TRY. As for the total income of the Presidency, it has remained fixed at its previous level of 305 million TRY. The Presidency has posted a deficit of 637.8 million TRY in total in 2018.
Two-time increase in kitchen expenses
According to the report of the Court of Accounts, while the stationery expenses of the Presidency was 1 million 641 thousand TRY in 2017, this figure has increased to 2 million 273 thousand TRY in 2018.
As for the "consumer goods used for nutrition, as food and in kitchen", their expenses have increased from its previous level of 2 million 646 thousand TRY in 2017 to 5 million 311 thousand 427 lira 74 kurush in 2018.
Travelling expenses of personnel: 22.8 million TRY
In 2018, the domestic and international travelling expenses of the Presidency personnel have increased from 14 million TRY to 22.8 million TRY. As for the total personnel expense, it has increased from its previous level of 106 million TRY to 181 million TRY in 2018. It has been further indicated that 107 million of this expense has been made for contracted workers.
In the expense item "purchase of goods and materials for consumption" comprising water, heating, electricity and Internet expenses, the total expense has increased from 25.5 million TRY in 2017 to 40.9 TRY in 2018.
4 million 179 thousand TRY spent for medical supplies
According to Court of Accounts, in the year 2017, the Presidency spent 2 million 784 thousand TRY in total on "medical and laboratory supplies". This figure has increased to 4 million 179 thousand TRY in 2018.
The money paid by the Presidency for "agricultural materials" to be used for the plants and trees at Presidential Complex has also increased from 188 thousand TRY in 2017 to 700 thousand TRY last year.
While a total of 36.2 million TRY was spent for ceremonies, fairs and organizations held with the approval of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2017, this figure has also increased to 48.9 million TRY in 2018.
9 million lira for associations
While the transfers of money to non-profit organizations such as associations, unions, institutions and funds were 7 million 975 TRY in 2017, this figure has become 9 million TRY in 2018. A total of 5 million TRY has also been donated to families.
While a total of 428 million 360 thousand TRY has been spent on purchase of goods and services, the expenses made as part of projects have been calculated as 943 million 646 thousand TRY. In 2017, 156.4 million TRY was spent for goods and services and 24.6 million TRY for projects in 2017. (RT/SD)
* 1 Turkish Lira (TRY): 0.175 US Dollar (USD), 0.159 Euro
** Photograph: AA
