Turkish Parliament Approves 2026 Budget Amidst Opposition's Historical Warnings

Turkey's parliament has passed 15 key articles of the 2026 central government budget. The vote followed a session where opposition lawmakers linked the date to tragic events in the nation's history. During the debate, Sezai Temelli, deputy chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, reminded the assembly that December 19 is remembered for several incidents. He specifically cited the 1978 Maraş Massacre, a violent conflict that resulted in many deaths. He also noted the 2000 "Hayata Dönüş" (Return to Life) prison operation and the 2015 killing of Taybet Inan, a civilian. The budget legislation now moves forward for further approval.