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At a time when the Turks are struggling to cope with the financial crisis, President Erdogan is building new palaces with taxpayers’ money. Its architecture is reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire.
For two years, Turkey has suffered from a severe economic and monetary crisis. The pound is in free fall and unemployment remains high, especially among the young. An additional burden is being caused by deprivation from the pandemic, which has also dealt a significant blow to tourism, one of the most lucrative sectors of the Turkish economy. Difficult times for the Turks, who are forced to “tighten their belts even more” or to emigrate abroad in search of a better life. And while all this is going on, President Erdogan continues to build decaying luxury palaces, ignoring any criticism from the opposition.
New Palace on Lake Van
The new president’s palace is located on Lake Van, the largest in Turkey. The architectural style is reminiscent of the ancient palace of the Seljuk Sultan Kombad. According to government sources, the building was built exactly where Sultan Alp Arslan had pitched his tent, preparing for the victorious campaign against the Byzantines, which consolidated Seljuk rule in Anatolia, especially after the Battle of Matzikert10. According to Turkish media, the construction of the palace has already cost 14.4 million euros, while the initial budget did not exceed 3.4 million. The manufacturer is said to be Erdogan’s childhood friends.
The Turkish opposition is outraged by the fact that construction works are progressing normally, despite the fact that in July 2019 the Turkish Constitutional Court had temporarily suspended them, claiming that they were blocking free access to the lake shore. However, the Erdogan government changed the relevant legislation, as a result of which the conviction of the judges was recorded. “You can hit as much as you want, this building will be finished,” Erdogan told his critics. In fact, in late August, to provoke them even further, he gave a speech about the Battle of Matzikert on the shores of Lake Van and then opened the sultan’s palace just to sleep there for one night.
Palace or… House of the Nation?
Strong criticism from Kemalist opposition party (CHP) MP Gulizar Bitzer Karatsa: “The lake shore is sacrificed to the greed of one man.” At a time when millions of our fellow citizens are struggling to cope with the financial crisis, he is building one palace after another. “However, Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) opposes the criticism.” What do you mean by palace? “” We see it as a house dedicated to the whole nation. ” said AKP MP Kahit Ozkan. Along with Lake Van, Erdogan continues the construction of his summer palace on the Gulf of Okluk in Marmaris. The building has 300 rooms and has cost more than 37 million euros to date. euros 50,000 trees were cut down to guarantee the necessary buildability.
The beginning was made in 2014, of course, when Erdogan inaugurated his first palace in Ankara, which is now the official residence of the president. The reactions of the opposition were intense, but without result, this time also, since the building was built in a protected area of special natural beauty, while the total cost of construction exceeded 500 million euros. The opposition’s reactions are due to another reason: the Turkish president is increasingly focusing on the Ottoman legacy, not on the legacy of the popular state founded by Kemal Ataturk. Erdogan’s three lavish palaces, as well as many other public buildings built in recent years on Erdogan’s order, are a tribute to the historical past of the Ottomans and Seljuk Turks.
