Özgür Özel uses 'Ramadan food parcel' calculation to highlight state of economy: Also touches on trade with Israel

In addition to CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş and Etimesgut Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu also attended the program.

Speaking at the iftar program, Özel said, "We chatted with four beautiful children and their mothers, with whom I am very happy to sit together at the same table. Everyone has different troubles, and there are so many issues we all need to talk about.

But since it is an iftar table and it is the month of Ramadan, one should not engage in harsh politics, should not say bad words, should not hear bad words, should not make others hear them, and at least in this month, while the citizens' troubles are so overwhelming, one should stay away from sharp political debates," he said.

Speaking about Israel's attacks on Palestine, Özel stated, "The main thing to talk about here is the massacres in Palestine that have been going on for 1.5 years, which have calmed down a little bit with the ceasefire agreement.

In 1.5 years, 50 thousand Palestinians, 20 thousand of whom were children, were massacred by Israel.

In past Ramadans, we were begging, 'Please stop trade with Israel, halt trade with Israel.' Those who denied it back then, it later emerged what had been going on. Now, unfortunately, you see what happened yesterday and what is happening. The whole world is watching with astonishment and as a lesson," he said.

"IT WAS 950 LIRA LAST YEAR, NOW IT IS 1,610 LIRA"

Özel said, "My final word is that the topic at our table was also the struggle for livelihood. I have no doubt that the topic at all tables and at iftar meals held across Turkey, or iftars held with difficulty, is the cost of living and the economy.

We are explaining this in all its aspects. You know the situation of retirees in terms of gold; while the lowest pension could buy 8 quarter-gold coins from 2002 to today, it has fallen to 2.5 quarter-gold coins today.

Every retiree has lost 5.5 quarter-gold coins. Again, the Ramadan food parcel, which includes eight basic products—sunflower oil, bulgur, rice, pasta, chickpeas, flour, ground meat, and tea—was 950 lira on this day last year. Now it is 1,610 lira.

May God help our citizens this Ramadan. Because the state is not helping," he said.

News Source: İHA