Özgür Özel calls for a rally and addresses companies: 'We will announce them one by one...'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel delivered the opening speech at the Party Assembly (PM).

Reacting to the 30 percent 'poverty raise' applied to the minimum wage that will be valid in 2025, Özel said, "The rate of those working for minimum wage in Turkey is 56 percent... The minimum wage earners, who were at 30-35 percent, have risen to 56 percent. They have created a great hardship and misery. After we heard this, we actually knew their intentions for 3 months; no one believed this lie." he said.

"By setting the minimum wage at 22,100 liras, they have condemned the nation to great misery," Özel added, "That night, Türk-İş did not go to that table. Because the employer and the state had reached an agreement and were imposing the minimum wage they decided on. I would like to express that we find this very positive." he stated.

Calling for the rally to be held tomorrow (December 28) at Tandoğan Square in Ankara, Özel also issued warnings to companies that pay low wages to their workers.

Özel said the following:

"I invite all residents of Ankara and everyone who has the means to reach Ankara to protest this minimum wage tomorrow at 1:00 PM at Tandoğan Square, to object to this misery wage and these policies, and to raise their voices.

BOYCOTT WARNING TO COMPANIES

We heard the President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce say, 'Let us all comply with the figure given by Mr. Erdoğan.' We have noted his name. He says Erdoğan fired the flare to crush the workers, and let us all comply with him. I am addressing everyone he addressed from here; those who comply with this will find us against them.

We will defend those who give workers their due rights to the end. To those who condemn workers to a misery wage, especially those who attempt to condemn employees earning above the minimum wage to the minimum wage, and those who organize not to provide a higher raise by using Erdoğan's raise as an excuse, I will say this: they will see the citizens of the Republic of Turkey using their power as consumers against those who do this. We will announce them one by one; just as those who put horse meat into food are exposed, we will expose those who take advantage of Erdoğan's actions to crush the workers, and we will use our power as consumers."

EMPHASIS ON EARLY ELECTIONS

Emphasizing early elections in his speech, Özel said, "It is clear that there will be no livelihood, and if there is an election, there will be salvation."