CHP’s Yavuzyılmaz Slams AKP Over TMO Bidding Scandal: “99% of Contracts Handpicked”
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Deniz Yavuzyılmaz, Deputy Chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and MP for Zonguldak, has accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of systematically bypassing public procurement laws through the Turkish Grain Board (TMO).
In a speech shared on his social media account following a State Economic Enterprises (KİT) Commission hearing in Parliament, Yavuzyılmaz revealed that 494 out of 497 public tenders by TMO were conducted through invitation-only procedures—a staggering 99% of total procurement.
“Public Tender Abuse at Historic Levels”
Labeling it as a “record-breaking abuse of tender procedures”, Yavuzyılmaz said that the TMO, a state agency meant to support farmers during hard times, has effectively been transformed into a cash funnel for privileged companies close to the government.
“This is not just a violation of the Public Procurement Law—it is a betrayal of Türkiye’s farmers,” said the CHP lawmaker. “The TMO, which should be a lifeline for agricultural producers, is instead functioning like a private bank for pro-government firms.”
Transparency Replaced by Favoritism
Yavuzyılmaz pointed out that open bidding processes have been abandoned in favor of closed invitations to select companies, thereby undermining transparency, competition, and accountability. He argued that the TMO’s procurement method was not only unlawful but morally unacceptable, especially in a sector that directly affects millions of farmers across Türkiye.
“What we’re witnessing is the institutionalization of favoritism. The Public Procurement Law has essentially been suspended by AKP for the benefit of a handful of cronies,” he emphasized.