Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s spending increased by 176% between January and June 2024 compared to the same period last year.
According to a report by the Presidential Strategy and Budget Office, published on Friday, Erdoğan spent a total of 6.1 billion Turkish liras (approximately 183 million US dollars) in the first six months of 2024. This marks a 176.8% increase compared to the 2.1 billion liras (approximately 63 million US dollars) spent during the same period in 2023.
The report also notes that the expenditures of all public institutions within the general budget increased, with the exceptions of the Presidential Strategy and Budget Office and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
One notable increase in spending was observed with the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet). With a budget larger than most government agencies, Diyanet operates a vast network of mosques worldwide. In the first six months of 2024, Diyanet spent 46.7 billion Turkish liras (approximately 1.4 billion US dollars), an increase of 137.3% compared to the same period in 2023.
The report predicts that the budget will end the year with a deficit of over 2 trillion Turkish liras (approximately 60 billion US dollars).
These surges in spending come amidst a challenging economic landscape for Turkey. The country has been grappling with high inflation, unemployment, and a poor human rights record over the past few years. Erdoğan is often criticized for his handling of the economy, leading to the depletion of state funds and the establishment of a one-man rule in a country where dissent is suppressed and opponents are jailed on politically motivated charges.
In June, Turkey’s annual inflation stood at 71.6%, slowing down after reaching a peak of 75.45% in May.
