Turkish ruling party vice chair resigns amid financial scandal

Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, vice chair of Turkey's ruling AKP and former Minister of Family, resigned from her political positions on September 26, 2026, following allegations of financial misconduct. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accepted her resignation. The investigation follows claims by opposition representative Zeynel Emre that Kaya and her husband, Ilyas Kaya, invested approximately 163 million Turkish liras (about 3.3 million USD) in the shipping company Ozata Denizcilik in April 2026, subsequently selling their shares for roughly 2.17 billion liras (approximately 44 million USD). While sources like Rik News report the gains were around 35 million euros, others specify the figures in lira and dollars.

In response to these allegations, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has requested a freeze on the assets of Fatma Kaya, her husband, and their children. The case is reportedly part of a broader investigation into investment funds and financial irregularities in Turkey, which has already resulted in the arrest of 45 individuals, including a former deputy governor of the Central Bank. Kaya stated she stepped down to allow for an impartial investigation into the matter, emphasizing that her political responsibility exceeds legal requirements. Authorities are currently continuing their probe into the suspicious stock transactions and broader financial activities.