The Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security has initiated seizure proceedings against six opposition-led municipalities for unpaid debts to the Social Security Institution (SGK). These municipalities—Adana, Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, and Şişli—were flagged for having the highest outstanding debts, resulting in the freezing of their bank accounts and those of affiliated municipal companies.
SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu) is the national social security agency responsible for collecting premiums and managing pensions, healthcare, and unemployment benefits in Turkey. Municipalities are legally required to contribute to SGK on behalf of their employees, and failure to meet these obligations leads to the accumulation of debts and penalties.
The municipalities targeted are all led by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), further intensifying tensions between the nation’s ruling party and the opposition, and highlighting deeper political divides.
Opposition responds
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a two-time electoral victor against President Erdoğan’s AKP and a potential 2028 Presidential hopeful, responded to the initiation of seizure proceedings against municipalities, addressing Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan:
“Let’s see if you have the courage to shake down one of our citizens. Come on, show us. If you have the guts, step forward and try.”
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The official Istanbul Municipality account on X (formerly Twitter) clarified that there are currently no freezes on Istanbul’s accounts:
“Regarding reports in some media outlets, we would like to clarify:.There is no block or seizure on the accounts of İBB or its affiliated companies.”
Similarly, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş clarified that the capital’s main municipal body,.along with its water (ASKİ) and transportation (EGO) subsidiaries, have no Social Security debts. However, six smaller municipal companies under Ankara’s governance are facing account freezes. Yavaş stated:
“Despite these politically motivated interventions, our support for public services will not halt. On the contrary, we will increase our services.”
Both Istanbul and Izmir municipalities have issued statements refuting claims of account seizures. They maintain that SGK debts for affiliated entities are either being restructured or are currently. under negotiation. Turkey
Social Security debts owed
According to reports from Sabah, the SGK debts for these municipalities are substantial:
| Ankara: 5.7 billion TL (~$212 million) | İzmir: 5.3 billion TL (~$197 million) |
| İstanbul: 3.3 billion TL (~$123 million) | Adana: 3 billion TL (~$111 million) |
| Şişli: 1.8 billion TL (~$67 million) | Mersin: 1 billion TL (~$37 million) |
| Total: 20.1 billion TL (~ $575 million) |
Central government denies political motive
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reportedly instructed Minister Işıkhan to aggressively pursue these debts. In a speech, Erdoğan criticized opposition-led municipalities for financial mismanagement, stating:
“If they’re going to do anything worthwhile for this nation,.let them start by paying off their debts to SGK.”
Minister Işıkhan defended the seizures by highlighting the rapid increase in SGK debts,.which has risen from 96 billion TL to 120 billion TL since the recent elections. He specifically pointed out the dramatic rise in Izmir’s debts,.claiming they have increased 885 times over the past few years. Turkey
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Written/translated for Medyascope by Murat Türsan
