The government's push for austerity in the public sector has failed to deliver results. Despite promises to cut costs—particularly through the disposal of surplus vehicles—public institutions spent 161.2 million lira on new vehicle purchases in the first half of 2024, while generating just 5.1 million lira in sales.
The disparity underscores the limited real-world impact of the Savings and Efficiency Package announced by Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek in May 2024.
Figures released in December 2024 revealed that of approximately 120,000 public vehicles, only 1,000 were classified as surplus.
According to data obtained by BirGün, the sale of these vehicles generated just 5.1 million lira in the six months following the package’s launch. March marked the highest monthly revenue, with 3.6 million lira. This stands in sharp contrast to the same period in 2024, when vehicle sales brought in 26.3 million lira—an 80% drop in revenue year-on-year.
Despite the stated goal of curbing spending, public institutions spent 161.2 million lira on new vehicles in the first half of 2024. The income from vehicle sales accounted for only 3% of that expenditure.
