Education Minister Tekin Seeks Handshakes, Opposition Refuses During Budget Talks

Education Minister Yusuf Tekin attended the 2027 budget discussions of the Ministry of National Education at the Turkish Grand National Assembly Plan and Budget Commission on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Before the session began, Tekin greeted lawmakers in the hall, but some opposition deputies declined to shake his hand.

The refusal came amid criticism of the Vocational Education Centers, known as MESEM. Tekin responded verbally, asking how he would live without their handshakes and saying he could not sleep until morning because of the sadness.

“I am so sorry, I am so sorry. I will not be able to sleep until morning because you did not shake my hand. How will I live because you did not shake my hand? I will die of sorrow.”

YENI Party Rize lawmaker Tahsin Ocakli entered the commission holding foreign currency with the message "If there is no future for us, there is no peace for you. Yusuf Tekin resign." YENI Party Manisa lawmaker Ahmet Vehbi Bakirlioglu spoke about detained young people using their constitutional rights, while Tekin told him to put the show outside.

The commission also discussed the Ministry's 2027 Central Management Budget Law Draft, the 2025 Central Management Final Accounts Law Draft, and Court of Accounts reports. AK Party Samsun lawmaker Mehmet Mus chaired the meeting.

IYI Party Istanbul lawmaker Suat Ozcagdas said the Court of Accounts' 7th Chamber identified about 600 million liras in public loss through unanimous decisions regarding some 2024 purchases. He stated Tekin had not responded to his allegations raised on November 6 for six days.

Journalist Zafer Sahin said the dispute concerned purchases under the information technology laboratories and Innovative Classroom Project. He added the Ministry bought specific products directly because they were not available at the State Materials Office, and a Court of Accounts auditor wrote to the office to learn estimated prices.