Tansu Çiller anecdote in Cavit Çağlar's memoirs surprises: 'Let civil servants not get paid for 6 months'
The memoirs of former minister and businessman Cavit Çağlar have been published, authored by Hulusi Turgut. The book, titled "Cavit Çağlar: A Stormy Life Story," recounts how Çiller, during her time as State Minister responsible for the economy in the Demirel government, did not want to pay civil servant salaries because she believed they increased inflation.
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İsmet Berkan, who attended the iftar dinner where Çağlar's book was introduced, wrote about that memory:
“One day, the then-General Manager of Ziraat Bank, Coşkun Ulusoy, came to visit Cavit Çağlar and said, ‘We cannot pay civil servant salaries this month.’ The reason was that Tansu Çiller had not transferred the money required for the payment of civil servant salaries from the Treasury to Ziraat Bank.
Çağlar could not believe his ears and immediately called Tansu Çiller. I am quoting from the book ‘Cavit Çağlar: A Stormy Life Story’ by Hulusi Turgut, published by Doğan Kitap.
When Çağlar asked, ‘Why aren't you paying the civil servant salaries?’ Tansu Çiller replied, ‘Let the civil servants not get paid this month, what will happen?’
– Ms. Tansu, what are you saying?
– In fact, not just this month, let them not get paid for six months. They are the ones ruining the country.
Çağlar shouts, Tansu Çiller cries
Hearing this, Çağlar immediately goes to Demirel. After a short meeting, Demirel hands the document containing the payment order to another state minister, Ekrem Ceyhun, and says, ‘Take this and have Ms. Tansu sign it.’ But Tansu Çiller does not sign that paper either and sends Ekrem Ceyhun back.
Upon this, Cavit Çağlar takes the same paper and goes to Çiller.
– Ms. Tansu, you know we are the government. If we don't pay civil servant salaries, they will slaughter us. There is the Patrona Halil rebellion in history, do you know about that?
– Let the civil servants not get paid, sir. They are increasing inflation.
– Sign this paper.
– No, I will not sign.
– Are you going to get us hanged?
The conversation becomes very heated after this point; Tansu Çiller starts to cry and says, “How can you forget that I am a woman, you cannot treat me like this.” Çağlar replies, “Right now, there is no man or woman, there is state administration. We are in the same boat here.” But Çiller does not sign.
As a last resort, Demirel calls Tansu Çiller to his office, and the paper is signed, allowing the civil servants to receive their salaries that month.”