Presidential Palace set to open to the public
The Presidential Palace in Ankara will be opened to the public, Turkish media reported, amid a defamation campaign targeting the alleged high cost of the upkeep of the complex, which was completed last year.
The presidency will offer free tours of the sprawling compound built on 300,000 square meters. Visitors are required to apply beforehand for the visit to prevent overcrowding.
No date was set for the "public days" in the complex referred as "külliye" or complex by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
On Monday, the presidential website introduced a virtual tour of several sections of the palace, including dining and conference halls, allowing visitors explore the palace through panoramic photos.
The compound in Ankara's Beştepe district was opened in December 2014 in the Atatürk Forest Farm, a vast area of greenery and farm established by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Since its opening, the complex has been targeted by critics of Erdoğan. An association of architects spearheaded the campaign by frequently issuing statements denouncing the astronomical costs of everything from cutlery to furniture in the palace. The presidency has repeatedly denied the claims while the association failed to provide evidence of the costs.
Lashing out at critics, Erdoğan dismissed claims of the high expenses of the palace and said he was merely a temporary occupant of the complex "which belongs to the nation, not the president." Erdoğan challenged critics to offer solid proof of the alleged high costs. He invited Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), to visit the compound after he claimed the palace has golden toilet seats so that he could inspect the restrooms. Kılıçdaroğlu later retracted his remarks.
The presidency has also released a time-lapse video to counter the claim that a large, round table where Erdoğan hosted an iftar dinner cost at least TL 240,000 ($90,000). The video showed the table, which looked like one piece, was many smaller tables merged together for the dinner. Erdoğan has said the table, or tables, had cost only TL 4,600.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın said the complex already received members of the public since it opened. He said they hoped the virtual tour launched on Monday would disprove what he called "mythical stories" about the compound. He also announced that a mosque will be opened inside the complex on Friday, which will be open to the public. Kalın ensured further public access, saying that multi-purpose halls to be opened in the coming months in the compound would have public access for their use to host events.
The presidency will offer free tours of the sprawling compound built on 300,000 square meters. Visitors are required to apply beforehand for the visit to prevent overcrowding.
No date was set for the "public days" in the complex referred as "külliye" or complex by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
On Monday, the presidential website introduced a virtual tour of several sections of the palace, including dining and conference halls, allowing visitors explore the palace through panoramic photos.
The compound in Ankara's Beştepe district was opened in December 2014 in the Atatürk Forest Farm, a vast area of greenery and farm established by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Since its opening, the complex has been targeted by critics of Erdoğan. An association of architects spearheaded the campaign by frequently issuing statements denouncing the astronomical costs of everything from cutlery to furniture in the palace. The presidency has repeatedly denied the claims while the association failed to provide evidence of the costs.
Lashing out at critics, Erdoğan dismissed claims of the high expenses of the palace and said he was merely a temporary occupant of the complex "which belongs to the nation, not the president." Erdoğan challenged critics to offer solid proof of the alleged high costs. He invited Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), to visit the compound after he claimed the palace has golden toilet seats so that he could inspect the restrooms. Kılıçdaroğlu later retracted his remarks.
The presidency has also released a time-lapse video to counter the claim that a large, round table where Erdoğan hosted an iftar dinner cost at least TL 240,000 ($90,000). The video showed the table, which looked like one piece, was many smaller tables merged together for the dinner. Erdoğan has said the table, or tables, had cost only TL 4,600.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın said the complex already received members of the public since it opened. He said they hoped the virtual tour launched on Monday would disprove what he called "mythical stories" about the compound. He also announced that a mosque will be opened inside the complex on Friday, which will be open to the public. Kalın ensured further public access, saying that multi-purpose halls to be opened in the coming months in the compound would have public access for their use to host events.
Last Update: June 30, 2015 19:31