In the Dec. 17-25 corruption investigation in Turkey millions of dollars were in shoeboxes. Sons of some ministers and bureaucrats were detained. But only a few months later, on March 30, 2013, local elections were held and the ruling AKP increased its votes by 5% compared with the previous elections, to 44.19%. Its nearest rival, the Republican People’s Party (CHP)also increased its vote totals.
That was yet another illustration that allegations of corruption and bribery did not mean much to people. But such allegations have been rapidly eroding Turkey’s image abroad. Transparency International released its 2014 Corruption Perception Index that placed Turkey 11 places lower than last year. Anne Koch, the organization’s director for Europe and central Asia said Turkey’s regression from 53rd place to 74th among 175 countries was because of the Dec. 17 operation, Koch said, “Millions of dollars in shoeboxes, the firing or resignation of ministers, many detentions, led the news on corruption.” She said some countries in Africa and Middle East were better placed than Turkey.
Oya Ozarslan, chairwoman of the Turkey branch of Transparency International, said in Turkey one out of five persons pays bribes to benefit from public services.
A corruption report by the powerful Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) followed. The report, based on interviews with 801 businesspeople, cited half of the respondents saying there was corruption in Turkey.
TUSIAD Chairman Haluk Dincer said their research by and large matched their predictions. “There is corruption in Turkey and the trend is for further increase,” he said. Dincer said corruption added 10% to production costs.
The Turkish National Assembly established an inquiry commission to investigate the Dec. 17-25 corruption and bribery allegations.
Main opposition CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu bitterly criticized the assembly speaker, who is from the AKP. Kilicdaroglu said, “Since when has the national assembly become the protector of thieves? Your duty is to preserve the reputation of the national assembly.”
At the moment, the investigation is said to be going on, but nothing is being told to the people. Anyway, even if the people were kept informed, nobody would expect an outcome that would have the accused ministers tried in court, because the commission findings must be approved by the assembly quorum. Since AKP has 312 out of 550 parliamentary seats, such an outcome is unlikely.
In short, there were always allegations of corruption in Turkey. They continue today. Nobody, including top businessmen, think it will ever end. Nature and the scope of corruption may change, but corruption continues to be an unchanging agenda item of the country.
