Turkey: CHP criticizes budget presentation by VP

President should present budget, says main opposition party leader

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's main opposition leader criticized that country's 2020 budget has been presented by the vice president and not by president.

"Normally, Mr. President should have come here, this is his budget, he should have presented the budget," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Republican People's Party (CHP), told lawmakers at the first day of 2020 budget debate.

Kilicdaroglu called on the lawmakers to say "stop" to the budget's presentation method.

"This is the budget of 82 million [Turkish people]...You collect tax from 82 million but a civil servant will present the budget by coming here," he added.

Kilicdaroglu's remarks came shortly after Vice President Fuat Oktay’s budget presentation on Monday.

Turkish voters decided to switch Turkey from a parliamentary system in 2017 to an executive presidential system of governance.

According to the system, vice presidents and ministers can be appointed and removed by the president.

Kaynak: