CHP's Fırat reacts sharply to IMF's minimum wage warning: 'What kind of idiot are you?'

In recent days, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that the 49 percent increase in the minimum wage in Turkey as of January 1, 2024, contributed to inflation in the first quarter.

IMF Turkey Mission Chief James Walsh said in a statement to Reuters on October 23, "We hope this will not be repeated this year, because we know from our experience in many countries with high inflation that such national-level wage setting is a major anchor for inflation expectations."

Walsh recommended that Ankara develop "social programs that provide support to low-income households through cash transfers" instead of wage increases.

Following this statement by the IMF, Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan also made a statement in support.

After his speech, in which he indicated that a minimum wage increase would also increase inflation, Karahan mentioned that wage increase rates in the US were 25 percent.

MINIMUM WAGE REACTION FROM CHP'S FIRAT

Dr. Ali Haydar Fırat of the CHP, a guest on the Para Politika program hosted by Ebru Baki on Sözcü TV, reacted sharply to these statements made by so-called economists. In his speech, Fırat said, "If we raise the minimum wage, inflation would increase. I mean, what kind of idiot are you?"

Fırat's speech was as follows:

What are we talking about? What lack of money are we talking about? There is money, but there is also theft; there is money, but there is also corruption and plunder. Those children are not living precisely because that exists. That is why we keep talking about money over and over. Because the order you have established is an order of theft, the order you have established is an order of corruption. The order you have established is an order of inequality. Because some people are earning terrible amounts of money and wealth in this order you have established, these children are not living. These children are dying because you are stealing from them. That is why workers are dying; they are dying because they are not working in good living conditions. Police officers are committing suicide, students cannot find dormitories, teachers cannot be appointed... These things are happening because you are stealing. These people are dying because the order you have established is an order of theft. There is no explanation for these things either. Then these 'economists' turn around and say that if we raise the minimum wage, inflation will increase. I mean, what kind of idiot are you? I apologize. This order has reached this point so that some people can get rich in the order you established. Now what is it, sir? We are going to give a tiny raise and inflation will increase. Before you get to that, look at yourself. Look at what you are spending, who you are giving money to, to whom you are transferring how much money...

While we are talking about these things, tenders are currently being held under the government...

News Source : 12punto