Özgür Özel calls on Devlet Bahçeli regarding pensions: 'Show some magnanimity, lay down the law'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel answered questions from journalists on Karar TV.

Making assessments regarding the agenda, Özel used the following expressions in response to a question about the lowest pension being passed by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) at 20,000 lira:

"When you look at the arithmetic in Parliament, the AK Party has 275 deputies, and the MHP has 47 deputies. Together, they provide a majority and pass any law they want. When the AK Party and MHP are together, we are always in the minority. This figure has caused an uproar among retirees. All parties reacted. Bahçeli also said, 'This is a starvation wage.' I said, 'If everyone keeps their word, you are the majority.' There was no objection from the MHP until the day before yesterday. They said, 'We are alliance partners, but not government partners; the CHP is trying to sow discord between us over these salaries.' We are not doing any such thing.

What we are asking for is not a very big thing either. Including the year 2019, the average pension was twice the lowest pension. Today it is 23/20. They have united all retirees at the base. In a few years, all retirees will be receiving the lowest pension.

Our motion was rejected. We said, '28,000 lira.' Even if that isn't realistic, let them state what is. Devlet Bey is our elder. Let him show some magnanimity. Let him, in quotes, lay down the law. Let him say, 'The reasonable amount for this is 24.' For the sake of Devlet Bey, we will vote for any figure above 20,000. We will vote 'no' to this 20,000 lira. We were a bit hopeful last week, but our hopes were dashed by this approach from Devlet Bey."