Tremble, my sons!

Yesterday, we first learned that our President is a fan of the TV series 'Gassal'. The fans of the show were so delighted that we hadn't seen such joy since the minimum wage was set at 22 thousand liras. 

Now, our expectation is a new post from Merve Safa Erbaş Likoğlu, the daughter of Diyanet Affairs President Ali Erbaş, who said, "You cannot film anything that doesn't contain profanity and sexuality, my sons, you are trembling with fear!" 

A comment saying, “Tremble, my sons, our President is also a fan of the show” would certainly suit Merve Safa Erbaş Likoğlu, who serves as a preacher in Beykoz. 

Just as we were about to digest this, it was announced that Abdullah Öcalan wants to get married and settle down!

TGRT Ankara Representative Fatih Atik revealed the details of the meeting between the DEM Party delegation and Abdullah Öcalan. Atik claimed that during the meeting, Öcalan conveyed to government officials that he wants to be released to house arrest and get married.

CALL FOR BOYCOTT

While these were being discussed, Erdoğan appeared before the cameras following the first cabinet meeting of the new year. 

While everyone was waiting for the President to announce civil servant and retiree salary increases—and perhaps even take the initiative to update the minimum wage—after a meeting whose main theme was the economy, the President instead issued a call for a boycott. 

Defending that Turkey is at a 'very good point' regarding inflation, Erdoğan said that exorbitant price hikes are being made under the pretext of the minimum wage increase. Stating that this situation stems from greed, avarice, and lack of conscience rather than economic reasons, Erdoğan called on citizens to boycott. 

That's all well and good, but no one provided a prescription for what the people should actually buy... The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry constantly publishes a list of ‘Foods Subject to Imitation or Adulteration’. Almost none of the cheap food that can be purchased is even food. If we also boycott the expensive ones, what will the people eat and drink? 

I think they are giving Mr. Erdoğan incomplete information. For instance, was Erdoğan aware that bread prices had increased in Ankara, İzmir, and Bursa while he was making these statements? Had the price data in the basket of goods used by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), which announces inflation data, been accurately conveyed to him? 

For example, our dear colleague and Ekonomim writer Alaattin Aktaş wrote that TÜİK bases rent increases solely on contract renewals. Aktaş had criticized this, saying, “The situation is much different in new rentals, and TÜİK ignores this data.” 

In his statements yesterday, Erdoğan said, “Housing prices and rents are at the very top regarding the cost of living.” If he is stating these figures based on TÜİK data, it means the reality of what is happening has been conveyed to him incompletely. Unfortunately, the situation on the street is quite different from TÜİK's data! 

Although TÜİK has found a solution for this too. It has emerged that the institution will spend 1.8 million TL within the framework of its "2024-2028 Strategic Plan" to increase trust in its data and eliminate negative perceptions. Apparently, communication tools suitable for traditional and social media environments will be used effectively for trust. “Spend the money on social media ads, are we going to hold this office again anyway…”

CIVIL SERVANTS AND RETIREES ALSO LEFT EMPTY-HANDED

While President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statements were continuing, we were saying “So ends the day”; when Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek signed the raise rate for contract personnel, civil servants, and civil servant retirees. According to the decision, an 11.54 percent raise for contract personnel, civil servants, and civil servant retirees has been finalized. 

Civil servants and retirees have also started thinking about which brands and products they will boycott first... The prescription is clear! If you cannot make ends meet with this salary increase, you will apply a boycott and not go shopping. 

Last year was the ‘Year of Retirees’. The cabinet has designated this year as the ‘Year of the Family’. Retirees were in prosperity last year. It seems we will be in prosperity as a family this year too!

Just as we were saying “Come on, the day is ending already,” banks announced at the last minute that they had made a joint decision. Very bad news for those who will borrow from each other... 

We now have to think twice before sending money to someone from the bank because the EFT fees that banks apply to money transfer transactions made to different banks have been increased by 44.38 percent. 

We should boycott these opportunists too. We should not make interbank money transfers. Let's borrow and lend by hand. 

Off, I got tired just writing this!

What a day it was...