A Turkish court has ordered President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to compensate the leader of the opposition party who criticised the President for having golden toilet bowls in the presidential palace. In May 2015 the leader of the opposition Republican people’s party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, stated that the 1000-room presidential Palace had golden toilet bowls. Erdogan denied the allegation and attempted to sue his rival for his comments. Fort Russ reports: “On December 27th the court of first instance of Ankara decided to close the case about the “Golden bowl” in the first hearing. The court decision stated that the comments of the leader of CHP was a criticism of excessive government spending and should be seen as a political criticism,” wrote Today’s Zaman. The court ordered the President to pay court costs and compensate Kılıçdaroğlu’s attorney’s fees. Erdogan’s decision to enter into the Palace after winning the elections of 2014 brought the country violent criticism, as the building was erected in a conservation area, contrary to the court decision to halt construction, said the Turkish agency.