Yeniden Refah Party concludes alliance negotiations

Yeniden Refah Party Deputy Chairman Suat Kılıç made statements regarding the agenda and local elections following his party's Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE ISSUE

Stating that there is a humanitarian, conscientious, moral, Islamic, and faith-based global reality, Kılıç said, "The systematic Israeli genocide in Gaza continues at full speed. Death, hunger, and despair, combined with seasonal conditions, are practically roaming the streets of Gaza. Unfortunately, the indifference of the Islamic world, especially our own Turkey, which has not resulted in any concrete steps, continues to hurt as much as the deaths themselves. In this process, we view the provisional measures decision issued by the International Court of Justice regarding the greatest genocide of the century ongoing in Gaza as a decision that brings relief and sprinkles water on hearts. This decision by the International Court of Justice was taken upon the initiative of the Republic of South Africa. In this sense, we congratulate the Republic of South Africa and its leaders. We expect the world to show interest in this genocide in Gaza once again and for bleeding consciences not to be ignored. We are also impatiently awaiting the judicial process that will continue after the International Court of Justice's provisional measures decision. The murderous Israeli administration has taken its place in the defendant's chair. Israel's genocide has been recorded by the International Court of Justice. It has been registered that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide. What is expected from now on is the judicial verdict," he said.

"A GAP HAS EMERGED BETWEEN THE LOWEST PENSION AND THE HUNGER THRESHOLD"

Emphasizing that they have drawn attention to and insisted on the injustice in the salary increase rates for SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees, Kılıç said, "Finally, a regulation was made to eliminate this injustice. Even if it was difficult, even if it was in installments, balance and justice were achieved in the increase rates of retirement pensions. However, the lowest pension is still at the 10 thousand lira level. It is not possible to make a living with this pension. As the Yeniden Refah Party, I repeat once again what we have always said. The lowest pension should be raised to the level of the minimum wage. If the lowest pension is raised to the level of the minimum wage, the situation of trying to get by below the hunger threshold will be balanced. According to Türk-İş's January data, the hunger threshold for a family of four has risen to 15 thousand 48 lira. The minimum wage is 17 thousand lira, and the hunger threshold for a family of four is 15 thousand 48 lira. And the lowest pension is 10 thousand 300 lira. Our retirees must not be condemned to a life below the hunger threshold. The fuel price hikes, which have become almost a nightly occurrence, are increasing transportation costs day by day, and transportation costs are increasing the pressure on food inflation. Meanwhile, a gap of 5 thousand lira has emerged between the lowest pension and the hunger threshold. It is the duty of the economic management to close this gap," he stated.

LOCAL ELECTION AGENDA

Kılıç stated that their preparations for the March 31, 2024 local elections as the Yeniden Refah Party are continuing. Announcing that his party's manifesto will be presented to the public in Ankara on February 10, Kılıç said, "You will see new headings in our manifesto. The promises of those who have managed municipalities for 20 years are one thing, and the promises of those who aspire to manage municipalities from today onwards are another. The Yeniden Refah Party's local election manifesto contains a promise of a new life, a new world, and a safe and peaceful future for children, youth, women, the elderly, the disabled, the employed and unemployed, those who have a diploma but cannot find work—in short, for all social statuses. While announcing our local election manifesto to the public on February 10, we will also share all our metropolitan, provincial, and district mayoral candidates with the public," he said.

"ALLIANCE NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDED"

Suat Kılıç stated that the negotiations between the delegations regarding the alliance have been concluded. Expressing that there is no need for a new meeting between the delegations, Kılıç said, "The parties spoke, listened, understood, and parted ways. We are not of the opinion that the alliance process should be prolonged any further. The Yeniden Refah Party Central Executive Board has made its assessment on this matter. Our Chairman will conduct other assessments and consultations he deems necessary. He will announce his final decision to the public in the coming days. The view and approach of the Yeniden Refah Party regarding the search for an alliance for the March 31 local elections will be announced to the public by our Chairman, Mr. Fatih Erbakan, at a press conference to be held in Istanbul on Friday at 14.30. Therefore, as the Yeniden Refah Party, we will share our view on this matter, which has occupied the public enough, with the Turkish society through the statement to be made by our Chairman. We hope and wish that the decision to be taken and the steps to be taken will be auspicious for everyone, for all of us, and for our country," he said.

News Source: 12punto