Erdogan cites cockroaches for move to lavish palace

Image
AP Ankara
Last Updated : Jun 06 2015 | 5:02 PM IST
Turkey's president has defended the controversial construction of a grandiose new presidential palace, saying his old office was infested with cockroaches.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been accused of squandering state resources when he was prime minister by building the 1,150-room palace, which critics say was illegally built on protected land.
In the run-up to tomorrow's parliamentary elections, opposition parties have criticized the expenditure.
Erdogan moved into the vast structure after he was elected president in August. The former presidential palace was given to the prime minister.
In a television interview late Friday, Erdogan said cockroaches had roamed the lavatories in the now-vacated prime ministry.
He said: "Does such an office suit the prime minister of the Republic of Turkey? There can be no question of waste where representation is concerned.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 06 2015 | 5:02 PM IST

Next Story