Budget proposed for Turkish Presidential Communications Directorate increases 2.5-fold in one year

Duvar English

The 2024 budget proposal submitted to the Turkish parliament foresees a 2.5-fold increase in the total funds allocated for the Presidential Communications Directorate from the year before, the daily BirGün reported on Oct. 21. 

According to the 2024 Central Government Budget Bill, next year's proposed budget for the directorate is 4.1 billion Turkish Liras. This is a 2.5-fold increase from 2023’s budget, and a 100-fold increase from the 2019 budget.

In comparison, the 2024 budget for the National Education Ministry received a 1.76-fold increase from last year. If the budget proposal for the Communications Directorate passes, it will be among the government entities with the highest increase in resources. 

The Directorate was established in 2018 with the main objective of "strengthening the Turkish brand." With exorbitant budgets surpassing various ministries, the directorate has drawn criticism in the past from opposition politicians.

Dubbing it the “Propaganda Directorate,” politicians have stated that the directorate used its extensive means to spread disinformation, especially in the months leading up to the general elections of May 14. The directorate widely circulated montage video clips depicting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) executives singing the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) election song. 

Directorate head Fahrettin Altun has been an outspoken supporter of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, often personally taking the stand to dismiss oppositional news outlets.

Turkish Communications Directorate spends 283 million liras prior to electionsPolitics

Prosecutors seek up to two years in jail for CHP Istanbul chair for 'insulting' Erdoğan aidePolitics

Main opposition leader likens presidential aide to Goebbels over 'PR' quake videoPolitics