Reaction to Retirement Pension from Dervişoğlu: How Can Those Who Cannot Make Ends Meet with 20 Thousand Liras Survive with 23 Thousand?

İYİ Parti General Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu made important statements regarding the hot topics on the agenda during his visit to the Çemişgezek district of Tunceli. Speaking to ANKA News Agency while crossing to the district by ferry as part of his visit, Dervişoğlu stated that they wanted to see all districts of Tunceli on-site, but they chose Çemişgezek first due to time constraints. The leader, who stated that he had come to Tunceli many times before but was visiting Çemişgezek for the first time, noted that the provincial chairman's special sensitivity in this regard was also influential in this choice. In addition, the fact that the mother of İYİ Parti İstanbul Deputy Cihan Paçacı is also from Çemişgezek almost turned this visit into a reunion. It was learned that historical and cultural sites in the region were also included in the program as part of the visit.

Dervişoğlu announced that they would meet with citizens within the scope of the Çemişgezek program and listen to their current problems and demands. Stating that important historical and cultural visits were also included in the continuation of the program, Dervişoğlu expressed that they would first visit the Sarı Saltuk Tomb and the grave of Diyap Ağa. Noting that they would proceed to the Tunceli center after these visits to continue their contacts, the leader emphasized that they aimed to conduct a comprehensive regional tour. Adding that they planned to go to the Pertek district in their next Tunceli visit, he showed that their connection with the region would be continuous. In this context, it was noted that the visits had both political and humanitarian dimensions.

Touching upon the economic agenda, Dervişoğlu made harsh criticisms, especially regarding the situation of retirees. He argued that the small raise given to retirement pensions by the government and its allies would definitely not be sufficient after TÜİK announced the inflation data. Reminding that AK Parti and MHP submitted a legislative proposal to the TBMM Chairmanship foreseeing a 3 thousand 500 lira increase to the lowest retirement pension, Dervişoğlu stated that this increase remains meaningless in the face of current price increases. He noted that they would continue their struggle on this issue in the Parliament and exhibit all kinds of opposition to protect the rights of retirees. He stated that as İYİ Parti, they also submitted their own legislative proposal to the committee, stating that retirement pension increases should not be less than 40 percent.

The leader emphasized that the proposal coming from the government side is far from solving the livelihood difficulties of retirees under current economic conditions. Stating that they submitted their own motions to the committee before the government's proposal in the Parliament, Dervişoğlu said they would make intense efforts to have this motion negotiated. He stated that increasing the lowest retirement pension from 20 thousand liras to 23 thousand liras is not based on any realistic grounds, because it is impossible for a retiree who struggles even with 20 thousand liras to make a living with a 3 thousand lira difference. Stating that a salary policy that is incapable of meeting people's basic needs cannot be sustained, Dervişoğlu added that this approach would further increase social unrest. He argued that the bill of the economic crisis is being cut most heavily from fixed-income earners and retirees.

Dervişoğlu completed his words by making a call to those who claim to govern the country and invited the authorities to be fair. He warned the responsible parties by stating that salary increases that do not align with the data and are far from reflecting the realities of the public cannot be accepted. He expressed that the variety of products people can buy from the market is decreasing day by day and that price tags eliminate a fair income distribution. He emphasized that fixed-income citizens have been completely pushed out of the economic system and that this situation is unacceptable. He added to his words that in order to prevent potential economic and social conflicts in the future, current economic policies must be fundamentally reviewed.