'We hope this is a legal process, not a political one'

New Welfare Party leader Fatih Erbakan spoke at the Provincial Chairmen's Meeting held at his party's headquarters.

Stating that the most significant threat Turkey faces can be defined as a crisis of trust and morality, Erbakan said, "Unfortunately, we are experiencing blood-curdling events one after another, from brutal murders committed in the middle of the street to the massacre of newborns, and even the invitation of a baby killer to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey."

The YRP leader continued as follows:

"Our nation is worried about what might happen to them or their children on the streets, in the avenues, and even in hospitals. They are experiencing a major crisis of trust. Furthermore, our nation is deeply concerned about the food products they buy from the market or the meals they eat at restaurants. Therefore, we are in a state of a major social crisis of trust and morality. A transparent, fair, and moral order is a need for every person and every society. We need to make the understanding of 'morality and spirituality first' a motto in every field and every institution. Instead of a worldly and materialistic mentality, we need to return to a spiritual and afterlife-oriented mentality."

'WE HOPE THIS IS A LEGAL PROCESS, NOT A POLITICAL ONE'

Regarding Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was arrested on allegations of 'being a member of the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization,' Erbakan said, "The government side says there are very serious allegations and evidence regarding this. However, the opposition side, especially the CHP, of course, states that these lack legal basis and that this is a political process. Of course, because the legal processes we have experienced in Turkey for years have shaken trust in the judiciary and justice institutions, our own minds are not entirely at ease, but we hope that what the government says is true. We hope this is a legal process, not a political one. However, we express that instead of appointing a trustee here, as we have stated before, it would be more appropriate for a deputy mayor to be selected and assigned by the municipal council to perform this duty."

'MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE 35 THOUSAND LIRAS'

Fatih Erbakan also made the following call to the government regarding the minimum wage:

"We said 35 thousand liras, increasing the figure mentioned by Mr. Özgür Özel regarding the minimum wage by 5 thousand liras. We said this based on the following: A household receiving two minimum wages should at least have an income at the poverty line. Because the poverty line has reached 70 thousand liras today. When two minimum wages enter a household, they should at least be able to escape poverty and reach this threshold. At least half of the 194 billion in payments to be made to contractors is an excessive payment. This is also in the Court of Accounts reports. It is stated how the money was transferred excessively and what irregularities occurred.

Along with this, instead of providing tax exemptions of 2.1 trillion liras and 60 billion dollars to 8-10 holding companies, let's give this to the nation. Of course, the employer pays the minimum wage, but let's provide support to the employer with these opportunities so that they are not crushed under this 35 thousand lira minimum wage. Therefore, as the New Welfare Party, we state that a 20-25 percent increase in February or March will still remain below the hunger threshold. We say that the minimum wage should at least reach the level of 35 thousand liras. The logic behind this is for two minimum wages to at least reach the poverty line level. Of course, at the same time, the situation of our retirees, which has remained at 12 thousand 500 liras, must be improved, and as we always say, the retirement pension must also be brought to at least the minimum wage level."

News Source: 12punto