Oğuz highlights MAKS project amid census debate

Speaking on BRT's Manşet+ programme, Oğuz said the country's projected population is known and called the opposition's push for a census a “populist approach.” He argued that repeating a census at set intervals alone would not be enough to obtain healthy and up-to-date data.

Oğuz said work on the Spatial Address Registration System (MAKS) project is continuing, but has not progressed at the desired pace due to problems in the local government section. He said some municipalities have completed their procedures while others are nearing completion, and that support, including workforce assistance, has been provided to some.

Oğuz said that once MAKS is fully operational, population data could be updated daily. Addressing census supporters, he asked: “Bugün yaptığın sayımı kaç yıl sonra tekrarlayacaksın?” He noted that Turkey and South Cyprus also rely on projected population data, and that planning in the TRNC is based on the same approach.