Akşener's response to Erdoğan on natural gas: 'If the nation isn't there, neither are you'

İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener spoke at her party's group meeting.

Here are the highlights from Akşener's statements:

CRITICISM OF HOLIDAY BONUSES

"For 21 years, they have treated our nation's hard-earned sweat as spoils of war and consumed it, but they were never satisfied. For 21 years, they have squeezed the water from our soil and fed on rent, but they were never satisfied. For 21 years, they have sold off our republic's values one by one and consumed them, but they were never satisfied.

You remember; the practice of holiday bonuses for retirees first began in 2018. The government was forced to provide it, in fact, due to our pressure... In 2018, the holiday bonus, which was 1,000 liras, was only increased twice in 6 years despite the rapid rise in inflation; and it only went up to 2,000 liras. Finally, for the upcoming holidays, it was increased by 50 percent to 3,000 liras.

Let's do the math now: Is 3,000 liras really an increase, or is it a loss? Let's look at it together... For example, in 2018, a retiree's holiday bonus was equivalent to 217 dollars... Today, even with the increased amount, it is worth 97 dollars... That is, less than half. And that is only if the dollar stays where it is until the holiday...

"IF THE NATION ISN'T THERE, NEITHER ARE YOU, MR. ERDOĞAN"

Mr. Erdoğan, as a classic election period move, has started to threaten our nation again... Just the other day in Ordu, he shamelessly said, 'How will a metropolitan municipality where we are not present bring natural gas? If we are there, there is natural gas. If we are not there, there is no natural gas.' What can we say, may God grant him wisdom...

Just like the main opposition, we see that the government's nerves are frayed and their spirits are low...

As you know, due to the great interest shown in our Ordu Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate, Mr. Enver Yılmaz, our friends' psychological state has deteriorated quite a bit. Well, they shouldn't take it personally; we will continue to upset them.

But on this occasion, I would like to correct him and remind him of one thing:

Actually, if the nation is there, you are there; if the nation isn't there, neither are you, Mr. Erdoğan! Therefore, in your absence, neither Ordu nor my fellow citizens in Ordu will lose anything, rest assured!

CRITICISM OF ERDOĞAN REGARDING SISI

As you know, last week, Mr. Erdoğan went to Egypt after exactly 12 years.

He met with Egyptian President Sisi. They crowned the deep conversation they had at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a warm meeting this time. What can we say? May God increase their rapport.

As the İYİ Party, we would only be pleased with the improvement of our relations with Egypt in line with the interests of the Republic of Turkey.

But we also need to ask some questions: If these relations were going to improve on their own without anything happening, then why did our country lose 11 years? If "murderer Sisi" was going to become "my brother Sisi," then why was our hand weakened in the Eastern Mediterranean? Why was space opened for the agreement between Egypt and Greece? If the Muslim Brotherhood was going to be pushed aside and the Rabia sign was going to be forgotten so easily, then why were our interests in the Blue Homeland put at risk? Actually, the answers to these questions are known to everyone...

Our country experienced all this damage because of Mr. Erdoğan's personal preferences and friendships; in other words, because he felt like it. It's that simple.

As the İYİ Party, unlike the government sycophants, we clearly see that this step taken is not a master chess move or part of a strategic plan, but a necessity imposed on the government by real conditions.

Therefore, we will continue to follow the process closely. Without allowing for the grave mistakes we have witnessed many times before in foreign policy, we will continue to voice our contributions and suggestions regarding the normalization of our relations with Egypt in a healthy, sustainable, and mutually beneficial manner, in line with the common interests of two countries that share a common history.

News Source: 12punto