Özgür Özel's tax reminder to Erdoğan: Citizens have paid for earthquake housing, tear up the promissory notes
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel attended a commemoration program in Malatya for citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake. In his speech there, Özel reminded AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan about taxes and, after doing the math, called on him to 'tear up the promissory notes.'
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In his speech in Malatya, Özel addressed AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, saying, "He said you will pay the Motor Vehicle Tax twice, and the nation did not hesitate to do so.
He doubled the VAT, and everyone paid it. A total of 71.5 billion dollars was collected from these. The total cost of the earthquake houses is 40 billion dollars. I am telling Erdoğan from here: Who gave this money?" he stated.
CHP Chairman Özel said, "Since the money we provided is enough for these houses and even exceeds the amount by nearly double, it is time to tear up those promissory notes. May these houses be a rightful gift to the earthquake victims; do not take money from them."
"DO NOT TAKE MONEY"
Özel's speech is as follows:
"I am making another call to Erdoğan from here. Do you know what this nation did after the earthquake? Amidst all this economic hardship, he said you will pay the Motor Vehicle Tax twice, and the nation did not hesitate. He doubled the VAT, and everyone paid it. He increased the SCT, and they paid it. He increased the departure fee for traveling abroad, and they paid it. A total of 71.5 billion dollars was collected from these. The total cost of the earthquake houses is 40 billion dollars.
I am telling Erdoğan from here. Who gave this money? The Turkish nation gave it, we all gave it. So I am saying this from here: Since the money we provided is enough for these houses and even exceeds the amount by nearly double, it is time to tear up those promissory notes. May these houses be a rightful gift to the earthquake victims; do not take money from them. Furthermore, we must continue to build housing with the remaining 31 billion dollars. Tenants are on the streets; they were tenants before and moved into containers. They have no jobs. There is a transportation issue, and they do not have their own vehicles."
Özel also reacted to the speech Erdoğan gave in Osmaniye today. "Unfortunately, Mr. Erdoğan set up a massive stage in Osmaniye today, costing between 10 and 20 million, and without coming down from that stage, he filled the place with civil servants and sent messages... We waited for him to announce good news, but he went around in circles and criticized the opposition again. He did not come down, he did not go to the tradesmen. He did not go to the container cities," he said.