President Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the TOBB Service Certificate of Honor and Plaque Presentation Ceremony at the Twin Towers of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye in Çankaya, Ankara:

Since the first day we took over the responsibility of governing Türkiye, we have acted and continue to act with the awareness that we carry the responsibility of every member of our nation on our shoulders. In the last 23.5 years, with the support of you and our beloved nation, we have carried Türkiye to the next level in every field, from education to health, from transportation to trade, from agriculture to security. We have established a solid structure for our economy, which we have built on four pillars. We have made the Turkish economy resistant to shocks in a period when protectionist tendencies are on the rise on a global scale, commercial competition is becoming increasingly harsh, and wars and conflicts are followed by water, climate, food and energy crises.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS CONTINUED ITS SINGLE-DIGITAL COURSE FOR EXACTLY 35 MONTHS: Our defense and aerospace exports exceeded 10 billion dollars last year. We further reinforce the momentum we have achieved in exports with tourism and employment figures. While our labor force participation rate has increased to 52.8 percent, our unemployment rate has remained in single digits for 35 months. Investors from abroad established 89 thousand companies in our country in 23 years and invested 290 billion dollars.

THERE IS OPPORTUNITY IN PRICING

While Türkiye today has the lowest input costs in Europe in many areas, especially energy, it is obvious that if there are disproportionate increases in the prices of some products, this cannot be explained by market conditions. We resolutely continue our inspections against those who make exorbitant pricing a habit, citing fluctuations in input costs.

OUR FOREIGN TRADE VOLUME IS 820 BILLION $

Despite the conflicts in our region, we grew our economy by 3.6 percent last year, reaching 1.6 trillion dollars and national income per capita to 18 thousand 40 dollars. We increased our foreign trade volume to 820 billion dollars and our exports of goods and services to 396 billion dollars. We will exceed 400 billion dollars in the very near future, God willing. The 4.6 billion dollar increase recorded in April was the highest export increase in the last 53 months.

WE DO NOT GIVE BONUSES TO WEDGE DRIVERS

While we are trying to break down the walls of learned helplessness that have been imposed on Türkiye for decades, some people are constantly putting obstacles in our way in this process. So far, we have not taken into account those who use every opportunity they have to preach goodness. We will not give them bonuses from now on. We will continue to achieve new successes in the same way that we responded to those who asked “What do they know about producing automobiles?” by producing them. We are about to leave behind almost a quarter of a century on the path of serving the nation and the country.

PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN RECEIVED EBU CEZER AND HIS FAMILY FROM GAZA
President Erdoğan received 11-year-old Gazan Ramazan Abu Cezer, known for his videos describing the Gaza tragedy on social media, and his family. Erdoğan met with Cezer at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office. Cezer’s father and aunt were also present at the reception. Ramazan Ebu Cezer gifted the book he wrote to Erdoğan.

The little phenomenon, which announced the human rights violations in Gaza, the blockade and the most basic human rights taken away from its peers in an impressive language filtered from the children’s world, raised public awareness thanks to these efforts and became known as the “ambassador of Gaza children”. During the meeting, Erdogan expressed his appreciation for the brave struggle of little Ramadan in the digital field, who reached millions of people globally and became the voice of the people and children of Gaza. Cezer moved millions to tears by saying, “They wrapped two of my friends in shrouds in front of my eyes” in his interview with CNN Turk. Muhammed UZUN / SABAH

AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir introduced the new organizational work for living spaces that have become housing estates in the “Every Site is an Organization” program. AK Party Istanbul deputies, district heads, mayors and organization members attended the program held at the Provincial Directorate. Speaking in the program, Provincial Mayor Özdemir stated that Istanbul is not only a physically growing city and drew attention to the social transformation in city life. Özdemir said, “Today, Istanbul has also become the center of a new urban sociology.”

THE NEED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURE
Stating that the neighborhood culture has been replaced by safe but distant living spaces today, Özdemir stated that they were not insensitive to the change and said, “The ‘Every Site is an Organization’ work was born precisely from this need.” Stating that the AK Party has adopted an understanding of politics that establishes direct contact with citizens since its establishment, Özdemir said, “Our work on Every Site One Organization is a new generation organizational reflex that accurately reads the changing city life of Istanbul and aims to transform the social distance caused by modern urbanization into a strong social bond. Today, we are establishing a strong field network in Istanbul, touching every point of the city with our neighborhood patrons, street volunteers and now with our site representatives. On the path we set out by saying ‘Istanbul with Every Neighbourhood, Every Story’; “We are building a new contact model in line with Istanbul’s changing rhythm of life,” he said.

Breaking news: Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that 5 suspects were detained for “taking bribes” and “laundering property values” within the scope of the investigation carried out against Beşiktaş Municipality.

In the statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was stated that an investigation was carried out against Beşiktaş Municipality by the Financial Crimes Branch Directorate of the Istanbul Provincial Police Department under the coordination of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In the statement, it was stated that within the scope of the investigation, 5 suspects, including the former Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor and Beşiktaş Municipality Council Member, were detained on charges of “taking bribes” and “laundering assets”.

It was stated that during the searches carried out in the residences and office rooms of the suspects, a large number of digital materials and 90 thousand dollars and 5 thousand euros, which were considered to be obtained from crime, were seized.

In the statement, the names of the suspects were listed as follows:

“Former Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Cevdet Çalı, Beşiktaş Municipality Personnel Services Manager Bülent Karakaş, Sarbel Organization Office Worker Özlem Demir Karakaş, Former Beşiktaş Municipality CHP Council Member Oylum Işık, Beşiktaş Municipality CHP Council Member İlker Uluer.”

Breaking news: Istanbul Police Intelligence Branch Police Officers; He made important findings about the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH. The clear identities of the people who carry out activities on behalf of the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH, organize so-called classes in their own illegal associations under the so-called leadership, and provide so-called training to children under the age of 18 in line with the ideology of the terrorist organization have been identified.

In addition, some members of the terrorist organization detained in prisons due to their connections with the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH; It was determined that they collected money by making radical statements in order to provide logistical support to the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH.

Members of the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH, whose identities were determined one by one; they carried out secret work to gain base for the terrorist organization; It was also determined that they sold books/magazines in order to cover expenses and to make propaganda for the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH.

RIFLES AND PROHIBITED PUBLICATIONS WERE FOUND

A simultaneous operation was carried out by the Anti-Terrorism Branch Police of the Istanbul Police at addresses determined in three different provinces based in Istanbul. 110 suspects who were found to be carrying out activities on behalf of the Armed Terrorist Organization DAESH were caught and detained.

In the detailed searches carried out at the raided addresses; Four rifles, 90 rifle cartridges, many banned publications and documents with organizational content, as well as digital materials with organizational content were seized.

The seized evidence was examined. The moments of the operation were captured on police cameras. The detained suspects were brought to the Istanbul Provincial Police Department for questioning and legal proceedings.

First Lady Erdoğan shared a post on her social media account about the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir, which will give a concert tomorrow on the occasion of May 19, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.

In her post, First Lady Erdoğan stated that the most valuable treasure of a nation is children who grow up with art and said:

The most valuable treasure of a nation is its children who grow up with art.

I follow with great pride and excitement the journey of the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir, which started in 2024 and grows stronger day by day.

Standing out with his musical talent and love of art,… pic.twitter.com/lT8dqkp1h9

— Emine Erdoğan (@EmineErdogan) May 18, 2026

“I follow with great pride and excitement the journey of the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir, which started in 2024 and grows stronger day by day. This valuable community of our specially talented children, who stand out with their musical talent and love of art, is one of the most beautiful reflections of determination, dedication and passion. I wholeheartedly congratulate our precious children who carry our traditional music to the future. I hope this meaningful effort, which rises note by note, will be permanent and bring a bright future to our children.” I hope so.”

First Lady Erdoğan’s post also included a video explaining the establishment, activities and goals of the Presidential Children’s Orchestra and Choir.

In the video, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “Türkiye’s Century will hopefully be the century of our children, too.” statements were included.

The procedures at the police station for 25 suspects who were detained within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Smuggling and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau, under the coordination of the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, on the charges of “qualified embezzlement by chain”, “forgery of documents”, “opposition to the Tax Procedure Law No. 213”, “laundering of assets arising from crime” and “abuse of office” upon notices and complaints, were completed.

Among them are deputy mayors SY and B.Ç. and Tepebaşı Mayor Ahmet Ataç’s private secretary Ö.E. were brought to the courthouse.

Police teams took extensive security measures in front of the courthouse during the transfer of the suspects. Following the prosecutor’s interrogations, 25 suspects were referred to the criminal judgeship of peace on duty.

Among the suspects, Deputy Mayor SY, Chief of Staff Ö.E., Ö.E. during the operation. DG and CT, CAA, EC, FBA, FT, M.Ç, OM, Ö.E, SU, Ş.Y, TG and TMY, who were among the administrators working in the municipality, were arrested.

It was decided to release 10 suspects, including Deputy Mayor B.Ç., under judicial control measures.

It was learned that within the scope of the operation, many invoices related to events and food organizations organized by Tepebaşı Municipality Culture, Art and Social Affairs Directorate were examined.

It was claimed that the suspects invoiced the meals prepared and distributed to the needy with the support of donors in the municipality’s soup kitchen, pretending to have procured them from the companies they had an agreement with, and made payments to the companies, and after collecting the invoice fees, the companies gave them to the municipal administrators in cash.

It was claimed that some municipal officials had family relatives open a “signboard” company using this method and received payment for this from the catering companies. It was claimed that the suspects increased the invoiced fees by increasing the number of participants in events organized by the municipality and gained unfair profits by this method.

It was claimed that the municipality officials wrote offers for direct procurement on behalf of the owners of the restaurants and organization companies operating in the city, without their knowledge. It was learned that the owners of the restaurants and organization companies whose information was consulted stated that the signatures on the offers did not belong to them.

Signature samples were taken from company officials and compared with the signatures on the offer documents at the Forensic Medicine Institute, and it was learned that the signatures thought to belong to the companies in the offer letters were fake.

A DETENTION ORDER WAS MADE FOR 60 SUSPECTS

In the operation carried out on May 14 in Eskişehir and Ankara and Adana, detention orders were given for 60 suspects, 33 of whom were from Tepebaşı Municipality.

During the operation, 23 suspects, including Deputy Mayor SY and Mayor Ahmet Ataç’s private secretary Ö.E, were detained.

It was learned that 35 people’s statements were taken at the police station within the scope of the investigation.

During the continuation of the operation, deputy mayor B.Ç. With the capture of one more suspect, the number of detentions increased to 25. During the search carried out by the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch teams of the Provincial Police Department in the garden of Ö.E’s residence in Keskin District, a room hidden under the ground was detected.

During the search in the room, 9 customs-smuggled “coin (cryptocurrency) mining” devices belonging to Ö.E. were seized.