In his statement, the Labour Party (EMEP) Chair Ercüment Akdeniz said “Party leaders and executives must wait for their turn for the Covid-19 vaccine like every citizen.”

As politicians are being vaccinated before all health workers and people in risk groups have been vaccinated, reaction against this is growing. EMEP Chair Akdeniz pointed out that during the start of the vaccination against the coronavirus pandemic, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, and the Scientific Advisory Committee members have been first people to be vaccinated in front of the cameras. He also said “In the same process, vaccinating some AKP [ruling Justice and Development Party] executive committee members have also been a point of controversy".

Reminding that Health Minister Koca has called the leaders of the parties in parliament to be a role model in the matter and to encourage the public for vaccination, Akdeniz also added:

“President Erdogan called on political party leaders to follow suit. It’s clear that when it comes to immunisation against a deadly disease, ‘being a role model for the public’ does not mean prioritising political names, on the contrary, it means, in terms of risk groups and prioritisation, party leaders and executives must wait for their turn just like all citizens for the vaccination. As rich classes have got the priority over the poor on the vaccination around the globe and in Turkey, as well as the distrust over the handling of the pandemic continues with the vaccination period, this type of ‘visual ceremonies’ cannot go further than strengthening the basis of such privilege. The Labour Party chair and executives will wait for their turn, as such, and continue to raise their voices against the scrapping of vaccination priority for people in risk groups and health workers.” (EVRENSEL DAILY)