PM fails to satisfy critics over assets
PRIME Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün is facing calls to publish details of his assets after an explanation for the source of a $700,000 fortune failed to satisfy critics.
Mr Özgürgün broke his silence this week over the controversy, details of which first emerged several weeks ago in the run-up to the January 7 general election, which his National Unity Party won.
He said in a statement on Wednesday that the money had been obtained from the sale of property, which had originally been purchased with a mortgage, and cash borrowed from friends and family, whom he had promised to repay “within a reasonable time”.
The Premier said he had been forced to raise the money because it had been “impossible” for him to meet the costs of his divorce settlement from wife of four years Dilek Karakuzu.
Mr Özgürgün, who married model and actress İnci Pars just days before the general election, said those who were making “unsubstantiated claims” about him were “obliged to prove their claims”, adding that there was “nothing that he could not account for”.
He accused opponents of using his divorce case to “sabotage” his election campaign “instead of debating political ideas and visions”.
Ms Karakuzu hit back on Thursday, however, saying via her lawyer that she disputed Mr Özgürgün’s explanation for the source of the $700,000.
“When the deposit [and withdrawal] dates are examined, it will be understood that no divorce case or even separation had been in question at the time,” said a written statement issued by lawyer Boysan Boyra
“On the other hand, it is not [clear] whether Mr Özgürgün’s expenses from those accounts; the mansion in Çatalköy, in which he is currently residing; and a Jaguar jeep and some other immovable properties were obtained through loans borrowed from acquaintances.
“The truth will come out if Mr Özgürgün’s accounts are examined transparently.”
The pressure group Toparlanıyoruz (We are Pulling Ourselves Together) called on the Premier to publish a “detailed statement” of his financial affairs, saying his explanation had been “unsatisfactory”.
The group also challenged Mr Özgürgün to make public his and his party’s election expenses.