He explained in Amasya: What did Özel discuss with Erdoğan?

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made statements in Amasya.

Speaking for the first time following the return visit of President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özel stated that 3 key economic experts from the CHP will visit Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek with the theme of "justice in taxation."

Drawing attention to the work of the Parliament, Özel said that price increases for agricultural products and the minimum wage would be on the agenda.

Özel also said regarding the problems of the citizens, "We are extending our hand to the AKP, do not leave this hand hanging in the air."

DEMAND FOR AN INTERIM HIKE IN MINIMUM WAGE

Highlights from Özel's statements are as follows:

"When I met with Mr. Erdoğan yesterday, I expressed to him that the pensions of retirees should be immediately raised to the level of the minimum wage, that an inflation adjustment should be made to the minimum wage at the end of this month, that the tea price of 17 liras, which is below the announced cost, should be increased to 25 liras, and that the wheat price of 9.25 TL, which is below the announced cost, should be increased to 15 liras.

Are you looking for resources? I said, 'Let's find the source together.' If it were the CHP, it wouldn't do it this way; it wouldn't collect 65 liras of every 100 liras of tax from indirect taxes, electricity, water, diesel, gasoline, and cigarettes. Indirect tax means making the factory owner and the security guard pay the same tax. 68 percent of taxes are collected this way. 21 percent is deducted as income tax from the salaries we all receive. That is 89 percent. The remaining 11 percent is the tax paid by the wealthy. In fact, a fair tax system should be the exact opposite.

We presented our proposal to Mr. Erdoğan yesterday for a fair tax system. Three of our party's valuable economic experts will meet with Mehmet Şimşek in the coming days. They will concretize our proposal for justice in taxation. It is requested that the Parliament be operated without excluding any party, that a fair tax system be adopted, and that price increases be granted for agricultural products."

Stating that the CHP is a friend of the farmer, Özel said; "I am calling out to all political parties from here. If we are the Parliament of this nation, we have to do something for those who cannot make it to the middle of the month with their salaries. The Republic exists for the people. Now is the time. We are extending our hand to all political parties, especially the AKP, to bring a smile to the faces of our retirees, laborers, tradesmen, and farmers. This is a hand that stands with labor and the laborer; do not leave this hand hanging in the air."