AKP's Şamil Tayyar reacts to his party over Defense Industry Fund: He warns by saying 'Let me remind you'...

While citizens are struggling with the cost of living due to the AKP government's economic policies, the economic management has prepared a new tax package that is set to draw backlash.

According to the legislative proposal prepared by the AKP and submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), new taxes are coming on many items, including credit cards, new and used vehicles, real estate transactions, and even wristwatches.

If the proposal in question is enacted, a 750 TL annual defense industry contribution fee will be collected from citizens whose credit card limit is 100,000 TL or more.

While the new tax package has caused reactions, citizens have applied to banks to have their credit card limits lowered below 100,000 TL.

Former AKP MP Şamil Tayyar also reacted to the regulation in question.

Stating that the public's sense of trust has diminished and that citizens want to know and be sure of where their taxes are spent as much as how they are collected, Tayyar said, "If the government cannot build a new bridge of trust with society, no matter how well-intentioned it may be, every tax regulation it introduces will increase the backlash and decrease political risk. Instead of trying to understand those who are reactive and trying to ensure they trust you, if you respond with insulting, inappropriate, and intolerant rhetoric such as 'DEM-affiliated, Armenian, Greek,' you will become completely detached from society and shorten your political lifespan."

Stating that 61 million 955 thousand 106 credit cards have a limit above 100,000 TL and that 46 billion 466 million 329 thousand 428 liras could be collected according to this regulation, Tayyar pointed out that the cost of the currency-protected deposit scheme alone to the state has exceeded 850 billion liras.

In a post on his social media account, Şamil Tayyar expressed the following:

"Before 2002, the government had borrowed from the IMF to pay civil servant salaries. When the AK Party came to power at the end of 2002, the phones at the headquarters and the Prime Ministry were jammed; our citizens calling from every corner of Turkey wanted to voluntarily contribute to the budget so as not to be dependent on the IMF. 22 years later, the communication lines of banks are jammed, and those calling are lining up to lower their credit card limits below 100,000 liras. The fundamental difference is the erosion of the sense of trust between society and the government. Because... Tax justice is essential not only when collecting but also when spending. Society wants to know and be sure of where their taxes are spent as much as how they are collected.

'IT IS A MATTER OF TRUST'

The issue is not the capacity for wealth/poverty or the volume of 750 liras within that capacity. The issue is trust... Because there are a total of 125 million 925 thousand 012 credit cards in use. 61 million 955 thousand 106 of this number have a limit above 100,000 liras. In other words, the limit of one in every two credit cards is subject to tax. So, a credit card limit is not an indicator of wealth. Furthermore, even if it is taken from the wealthy, if it does not improve the conditions of the poor, does it have any meaning? The total amount to be collected from cards is 46 billion 466 million 329 thousand 428 liras. In a place where the cost of currency protection to the state exceeds 850 billion liras and a private secretary travels with 60 kilos of gold, if there is doubt about where this 46 billion liras will be spent, one needs to sit and think about it.

'YOU WILL SHORTEN YOUR POLITICAL LIFESPAN'

I keep saying it. If the government cannot build a new bridge of trust with society, no matter how well-intentioned it may be, every tax regulation it introduces will increase the backlash and decrease political risk. Instead of trying to understand those who are reactive and trying to ensure they trust you, if you respond with insulting, inappropriate, and intolerant rhetoric such as 'DEM-affiliated, Armenian, Greek,' you will become completely detached from society and shorten your political lifespan. Let me remind you."

2002 öncesi hükümet, memur maaşlarını ödemek için IMF’den borç almıştı.

AK Parti 2002 sonunda iktidara gelince genel merkez ve başbakanlığın telefonları kilitlendi, Türkiye’nin her köşesinden arayan vatandaşlarımız, IMF’ye muhtaç olmamak için bütçeye gönüllü katkıda bulunmak…

— Şamil Tayyar (@samiltayyar27) October 13, 2024