Fatih Portakal debunks 'avocado-cashew' happiness with his own calculation: 'It's impossible'
Following the announcement of the minimum wage as 22,104 liras, reactions poured in. A woman living in Manisa caused a major public debate by claiming that she leads a "comfortable life" on the 25,000-lira salary her husband earns working at a factory, and that she feeds her child avocados and cashews. In his main news broadcast, Fatih Portakal used a calculation to demonstrate that it is not possible to live well on such an amount.
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Evaluating the minimum wage rate in a street interview, the woman stated that her rent expense is 9,000 liras and that she can cover all other household needs.
Claiming she lives a comfortable life, the woman said, "I don't work, but I can buy everything. I feed my child avocados and cashews. The money my husband earns is enough."
Sözcü TV Main News Anchor Fatih Portakal evaluated the woman's claims as an "ideological approach."
"IT'S IMPOSSIBLE"
Portakal said, "It is not possible for you to be happy with 25,000 liras. It is impossible to cover rent, bills, kitchen expenses, transportation, and other needs with this money."
Doing the math based on what the woman said, Portakal commented, "She says 9,000 liras goes to rent. Let's say 2,000 liras goes to other things, that's 11,000 liras. That leaves 14,000 liras. It is impossible for this money to be enough for electricity, water, natural gas, bills, credit cards, transportation, vegetables, fruit, meat... It's just not possible! This is living just to keep your stomach full."
Evaluating the expressions used in the street interview as an "ideological approach," Fatih Portakal stated, "People who say they are happy under these conditions are looking at the situation only through a political lens. If these conditions were being experienced under a different government, these people would definitely criticize it."
On the other hand, Portakal drew attention to a list sent by a viewer that itemized monthly basic expenses.
The list showed that the total of only rent, bills, grocery expenses, and school costs reached 31,000-32,000 liras.