Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly criticized the Council of State on Thursday over a recent decision by the court decreasing bus and metro fares in Ankara to 2003 levels, saying the court should have considered the possible outcome of the ruling in its deliberations.

“Law and justice are very important in this country. The nation is to have the last word on this issue. Taking such steps and preventing public services, saying ‘I made my decision, you can do whatever you want,' cannot be a judicial perspective,” Erdoğan said.Stating that the Ankara Municipality's monthly loss from the rolled-back fares is TL 41 million, Edoğan said: “This figure is for today. If we go back to six years ago, it goes up to TL 480-500 million.Can this municipality afford this loss? It will close down, and later we'll have to let the Council of State come and run this municipality. This is what would happen. I also served as a mayor [of İstanbul]. They also caused this kind of suffering for us. We should think deeply about what our decisions would bring about. We are giving an accounting to the nation. But those making decisions on behalf of the nation do not give any accounting to the public.”Recalling that they are held accountable by the public when they make a decision, Erdoğan also stressed that the distinction between the authority of those elected and those appointed should be revisted in Turkey. “The way of politics is open to everyone. The way to govern a city is open. You can establish your own party, or there are established parties. If my nation elects you, you can both rule the country and the city,” he said, referring to members of the court.The Consumer Rights Association (THD) had filed suit in Ankara's 9th Administrative Court seeking the repeal of a fare increase for Ankara public transportation. The court ruled to roll back prices to 2003 levels. Starting last Monday, full fare bus tickets are now 90 kuruş and student tickets 60 kuruş, while short distance dolmuş fares are 90 kuruş and long distance fares TL 1.In the meantime, Ankara's 2nd Administrative Court ruled yesterday to grant a stay of execution on the bus fare ruling. The Ankara Chamber of Minibus Drivers had filed a suit with the court seeking the cancellation of the fare decrease. The ruling will reportedly apply to buses as well. 12 March 2010, FridayMUSA TAŞPINAR  ANKARA