Eren Erdem Condemns Ankara Municipality’s Extravagant Concert Costs
Former Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Eren Erdem, has expressed outrage over the scandalous concert organized by the Ankara Municipality. Erdem criticized the decision to spend 4 million lira on the concert, which he claimed had a technical cost of 94 million lira, calling it a horrifying figure. He stated, “If the AK Party does it, we criticize, but if someone from our party does it, we stay silent, right? Of course not!”
Erdem, who had experience in event and concert organization before entering politics, questioned the astronomical figures revealed by the Ankara Municipality regarding the concert costs. He highlighted that a similar system used at an Ebru Gündeş concert in a public event reportedly cost 9 million lira for a duration of 45 days. Erdem emphasized, “Even though I took a break from active politics, I have continued to organize events for some time. This is a field I am somewhat familiar with. Now, let’s talk about the figures that were disclosed! The ‘technical cost’ of the TAN concert could have been managed within the range of 2 to 2.5 million lira. Renting the system for 3 days at a cost of 94 million lira could have allowed for the complete purchase of the system for 40 million lira! With these amounts, you could buy the system and organize concerts without paying rental fees for years.”
Questioning the Exorbitant Figures
Erdem further scrutinized the reported costs, stating, “Even if you rented all the equipment for 94 million TL, you could place robots all over Ankara and organize festivals for months. Still, a technical cost of 94,000,000 TL is unrealistic! These figures are unacceptable and impossible! For example, if I had such a budget, I could organize a music festival for 3 months without interruption. I am not even mentioning the artist fees! Such figures are unheard of in the market. Recently, I organized a comprehensive ‘rap concert’ with some of Turkey’s most respected artists, which cost approximately 1 million lira. Sound, stage, lights. If someone doubts this, I can direct them to the companies I work with. They could provide the TAN concert for 2 million and the other concerts for 3-4 million in total technical costs.”
High Artist Fees and Technical Expenses
Regarding the presentation made by Mansur Bey, Erdem criticized the exorbitant artist fees and technical expenses, stating, “The technical expenses are unacceptably high! No one should come forward and say otherwise. Tomorrow, I can send proposals from companies that are my close friends, who can provide the 94,000,000 lira concert for 4-5 million. These figures are extremely exaggerated, indescribably high. As I said, the system rented for one concert could be completely purchased with the rental fee given to that system!”
Erdem concluded by emphasizing the importance of holding accountable those responsible for such lavish expenditures. He remarked, “When it comes to justice, you may break a bone, but you shouldn’t tolerate being cheated! To those who chant ‘you are criticizing your party,’ if you stay silent just because someone from your party is overspending 100 times more on a task that could have been done for 1 lira, then it means you do not love this country. Period!”
In light of Erdem’s criticisms, questions have been raised about the transparency and accountability of public spending, particularly in organizing events and concerts. The need for responsible and efficient allocation of resources in such endeavors has become a focal point for discussion among political circles and the public alike.
