There is no right to life for the ordinary citizen in this country

Most esteemed officials…

Do you know how citizens are getting by? 

Perhaps you think everyone is living like Dilan Polat and Engin Polat, but the ordinary, simple citizen is living by going into debt on their credit cards…

The ordinary, simple, honest citizen who pays their taxes, does not launder money, does not engage in illegal business, and does not run illegal betting operations is trying to hold onto life with credit cards. 

The number of credit card debtors in Turkey has reached 37 million. The number of those dragged into a quagmire with debts to certain financial institutions and individual loans has also exceeded 40 million! Moreover, these figures belong to the first quarter of the year. 

The Medium-Term Program (MTP) covering the 2025-2027 period was announced yesterday by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. 

With the MTP, prepared by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, covering the 2025-2027 period, basic economic magnitudes and targets were determined.

The government, wanting to put a brake on consumption, will trim loans and credit card limits. 

Citizens who sustain their lives with credit card limits will now have card limits indexed to their income. Additionally, tightening policies will be implemented for individual and commercial loans.

In other words, the lifeline will be cut! Our elders, who think the way to fix the economy is to cut credit card spending, will effectively tell the citizen "don't buy, don't eat, don't drink"… Because according to the figures, the number of those living without debt is seen as half of the 85-million-strong country.

But it's normal! We are no longer surprised.

In this country, there is truly no right to life for the honest, ordinary citizen. They have no money, and they have no value in the eyes of the law. They have no freedom to express their opinions. They have no hope for the future. 

They have less value than the swindler, the fraudster, the tax evader, the mafia wannabe, or the gang member. 

Every day we see things that make us say, "This is too much..." It turns out big companies don't pay taxes. Those with connections commit murder. Those who know how to cover their tracks evade taxes. Those who are skilled at it commit forgery. They cause accidents, they commit murder; if they have a father, an uncle, or a powerful relative, they are released…

Look, yesterday, in the case of Dilan Polat and her husband Engin Polat, who were arrested on charges of money laundering and are being tried with up to 40 years in prison, a release decision was also made for Engin Polat! There are no detained defendants left in the 28-defendant case. The objection to Engin Polat's release was also rejected…

The social media phenomenon who wrapped her hair in curlers made of foreign currency also turned on the camera and celebrated her husband's release by singing, with the same arrogance as the first day. And she did so while showing off her branded clothes, glasses, and luxury car.

Yet, they had been sued for "establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," "laundering assets derived from crime," and "violating the Law on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions."

They were released in line with a MASAK report that no one understands. The trial will continue, but the Polat couple will also continue their luxury life. 

There are four reports prepared against our girl who wears curlers made of foreign currency and her husband. According to the report; 500 million TL in fake invoices, 170 million TL in fake invoices between family companies, and 500 million in unregistered money are mentioned. But they were released and filmed a video in the car…

What were we going to do while determining the basic economic magnitudes and targets with the Medium-Term Program prepared by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the Presidency of Strategy and Budget for the 2025-2027 period? We were going to restrict credit card spending and introduce a card limit indexed to income! In other words, if you are dreaming of withdrawing money from credit cards and making curlers for your hair like that, you are mistaken. 

What did we say?

There is no right to life for the ordinary, simple, honest citizen who pays their taxes, does not launder money, does not engage in illegal business, and does not run illegal betting operations…