Joint work decision emerges from Erdoğan-Özel meeting: Additions may be made to the omnibus bill

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited CHP Chairman Özgür Özel on June 11.

During the meeting at the CHP Headquarters, Özel presented Turkey's agenda issues and proposed solutions to Erdoğan.

It was learned that a decision was made at the historic summit to conduct joint work for a fair tax system.

With the consensus reached after the meeting, it is stated that additions could be made to the omnibus bill that the AKP government has been working on for months.

According to the report by Başak Kaya from Sözcü, the omnibus bill plans to tax the wealthy more and provide natural gas subsidies to low-income earners. Additionally, renewable energy investments will be encouraged, and some tax exemptions will be abolished. Introducing taxes on capital market transactions, such as cryptocurrency, is also being discussed.

NATURAL GAS BILL BASED ON INCOME

With the omnibus bill, which addresses the legislation from top to bottom, a natural gas tariff period based on income will be initiated. While those with higher incomes will pay the full bill, low-income earners will pay one-third of the bill.

The abolition of some tax exemptions, which are considered to have no contribution to the economy, is also on the agenda. In this way, it is aimed to increase budget revenues and create resources to support impoverished segments.

WHAT HAPPENED?

It was learned that during the meeting between the two leaders, Özel brought up the demand for an interim raise for the minimum wage in July, raising the lowest pension to the level of the minimum wage, purchase prices that fell below expectations, especially for tea and grain producers, teachers waiting for appointments, the problems of private school teachers, victims of internship and apprenticeship, the situation of those waiting for a pension tier, rent assistance, and the difficulties faced by earthquake survivors. It was noted that Özel stated there is a need for a macro solution to meet all these economic expectations and proposed that the Parliament be activated with the participation of all political parties for a fair tax system; it was stated that Özel emphasized the principle of taxing those who earn more at a higher rate and those who earn less at a lower rate, and that in addition to this, a fiscal study should be conducted on the revenues and expenditures of the current budget and measures should be taken to eliminate injustice. In this context, it was reported that Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and the CHP's economic staff could come together regarding the demand for creating a fair tax system.