Response to Criticisms from Ünal Üstel
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel criticized the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) call for an extraordinary session in Parliament to discuss security issues, stating, “We will not assist in turning national security into a political show.” He emphasized that there is no evidence indicating that the security situation in the country has worsened compared to previous years.
Defending the government’s efforts to combat crime and enhance traffic safety, Üstel noted that works to increase the capacity of the security forces are ongoing. He also pointed out that the upcoming election period is being exploited by some political actors as an opportunity to manipulate security issues.
Extraordinary Meeting of Parliament
The Republic Assembly will hold an extraordinary session at 10:00 AM at the request of CTP deputies. Topics related to public safety will be discussed in this session. Üstel claimed that the way security issues on the Parliament’s agenda are approached by the opposition seeks to create a perception.
The Prime Minister remarked that the opposition is using fear politics regarding discussions about national security and crime rates, stressing that safety should be assessed with concrete data. Üstel noted that a total of 2,751 criminal incidents were recorded in the first seven months of 2026, representing a significant decrease compared to past years.
As the gathered data shows, 99.13% of reported crimes have been solved. Üstel emphasized that these results validate the police force’s efforts and confirmed that effective responsibilities are being carried out to prevent crimes and capture criminals. In this regard, he praised the police organization.
Prime Minister Üstel stated that the attempts of others to create negative perceptions regarding national security threaten social peace. He highlighted the importance of considering data in discussions about community safety.
Entry and Exit Controls
Referring to the inspections carried out throughout the year, Üstel announced that a total of 3,831 individuals were denied entry into the country in 2026, and 1,180 individuals without legal status were deported. In this context, he emphasized the significance of the Migration Management Center opened with Turkey’s support.
Recalling that more effective security mechanisms have been established through efforts in migration management, Üstel stated that 112 individuals have been arrested so far, and 960 foreigners’ biometric information has been recorded in the system.
Need for Police and Traffic Safety
In the face of increasing population mobility and the variety of crime types, he mentioned that the goal of increasing the police force’s strength from 3,000 to 4,500 will be achieved. He also indicated that the growing number of registered vehicles necessitates additional measures to prevent traffic accidents.
Üstel noted that the number of registered vehicles, which was approximately 182,000 in 2016, has now surpassed 498,000, mentioning that the results of traffic safety inspections have had positive reflections. Compared to 2023, there has been a 32% decrease in fatal traffic accidents and a 26% decrease in fatalities.
Finally, Üstel stated that the opposition’s turning judicial incidents into political material will not benefit the country, expressing that development efforts will continue and necessary steps will be taken for a more peaceful society in the future.
Source: www.diyaloggazetesi.com
