Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the government would hold those responsible accountable in an ongoing investigation into funds undergoing liquidation, while announcing financial assistance for thousands of households affected by recent flooding in Istanbul.

Speaking at a parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Erdoğan said the government was prioritizing the repayment of investors’ savings and would take further measures following ongoing investigations.

“We are managing the fund issue with sensitivity. Payment procedures will be accelerated with the legislative proposal in the Assembly. Our priority is the payment to investors of the savings in the funds whose liquidation has been decided,” he said.

Erdoğan outlined a three-stage approach to the issue: accelerating payments to investors, bringing those who obtained unjust gains before the judiciary, and introducing measures to prevent similar cases in the future.

He said the issue affected more than 455,000 investors in funds whose liquidation had been decided, as well as many of their family members.

“We are handling this issue with the meticulousness of a surgeon and placing the interests of our nation above every kind of calculation,” Erdoğan said.

He added that further steps would be taken based on a comprehensive report by the State Supervisory Council (DDK) and other ongoing investigations, including possible institutional, individual or legislative measures.

The president criticized opposition figures for making corruption allegations without, he said, having sufficient information or documents.

“We will not surrender to the politics of ‘throw mud and let the stain remain,’” he said, warning that baseless accusations against people in connection with the funds could seriously damage their reputations.

Erdoğan also accused the opposition of overlooking international and regional developments and what he described as covert operations and social engineering projects targeting Türkiye.

“The opposition neither follows the world and our region at all, nor are they aware of the covert operations and social engineering projects targeting Türkiye,” he said.

He further criticized what he described as putting political interests ahead of national interests, saying the attitude that the country could suffer as long as it benefited a political group was unacceptable.

Responding to rhetoric suggesting that Türkiye was at war, Erdoğan questioned whom the country was supposedly fighting and warned against language that could deepen divisions within society.

“Take your hands off this nation’s brotherhood,” he said, urging political actors not to turn citizens against one another.

Addressing flooding and inundation in Istanbul and surrounding provinces, Erdoğan said the state had mobilized to assist affected residents and that any negligence would be investigated.

“If there is negligence or fault, those responsible will be identified and whatever is required will be done without hesitation,” he said.

Erdoğan said the government was providing assistance to residents affected by the disaster, adding that approximately 57 million Turkish liras had been distributed to 5,672 households across 37 districts in Istanbul.

He also criticized attempts to turn the disaster into a subject of political dispute, maintaining that the government's priority was to support affected citizens and establish accountability wherever necessary. (ILKHA)