CHP's Karabat reacts to minimum wage: Misery for the nation, luxury for the Palace!

The 2025 minimum wage was announced in a lightning meeting at 22,104 TL, falling far below expectations. The announced figure drew a flood of reactions, primarily from the millions trying to survive on minimum wage. One of those reactions came from CHP Deputy Chairman and Istanbul Deputy Özgür Karabat. 

In his statement, Karabat reiterated his party's proposal that "the minimum wage should be at least 30,000 TL." Addressing AKP President Erdoğan, Karabat said, "You do not love our nation," and added, "Even slaves are fed. I am addressing the noble Turkish nation; the minimum wage that Mr. Tayyip Erdoğan approved by saying 'good luck' is a message to the 9 million people trying to put bread on their tables, saying 'I do not pity you, fend for yourselves.'" 

The full text of Karabat's statement is as follows: 

"MISERY FOR THE NATION, LUXURY FOR THE PALACE"

22,104 Turkish Lira

A document of shame for Turkey as it enters 2025.

You do not love our nation.

Someone who loves their nation would not do this.

Those who love their nation do not condemn their people to a wage at the hunger threshold.

The unity and well-being of the nation do not even concern you. 

Those who care about the unity and well-being of the nation would not do this to their people.

They would not treat a portion of their nation worse than slaves.

Even slaves are fed.

I am addressing the noble Turkish nation.

The minimum wage that Mr. Tayyip Erdoğan approved by saying 'may it be auspicious'

For those trying to bring bread home with a minimum wage

It means telling 9 million people, 'I do not pity you, fend for yourselves.'

Mr. Tayyip Erdoğan,

And to your ministers and deputies,

who are nothing more than your soulless shadows, I am speaking to you.

If you still have any conscience, for God's sake, listen.

While it is a great sin to violate the rights of even a single servant,

you are violating the rights of 9 million people working for the minimum wage.

You cannot bear the weight of this sin.

With real inflation at 70 percent.

With rent increases at 65 percent,

With tax increases at 44 percent,

In a country where these are observed.

While paying trillions  in interest expenses,

to announce the minimum wage as 22,104 liras

is it not a shame,

Is it not a shame?

Setting everything else aside,

Is it not a great sin?

Mr. Mehmet Şimşek, inflation is not curbed this way.

Your math is wrong.

Trying to curb inflation by pushing 9 million people below the hunger threshold

is taking the easy way out.

It is not loving this nation, it is not caring about this nation.

It is sheer heartlessness.

If you want to change pricing behavior quickly,

Do not set your sights on the bread of the 9 million people living at the hunger threshold,

But on the massive plunder that continues in public spending,

And the immense waste.

The source of inflation

Is not the bread of the 9 million people working with their sweat and labor,

But the resources you cannot seem to stop handing over to your cronies.

It is in public expenditures.

While you make the rich even richer,

You are not only transferring wealth from the pockets of the poor to the rich.

At the same time, you are dealing a major blow to the national unity and integrity of this country,

And to the peace and security of this country.

I am addressing our nationalist friends who emphasize the unity, solidarity, and indivisible integrity of the country,

I am calling out to you,

In a period where we are so in need of unity and solidarity, 

Is it fair to condemn 9 million of our people to hunger?

Can this be done to this nation in the name of curbing inflation?

As people who love their nation and care about the unity and solidarity of their nation,

Come join us

Oppose this

Prevent this.

The minimum wage must be at least 30,000 TL."