AKP responds to claims of a flat-rate pension increase: 'There is no such study'

While the hunger threshold has long since surpassed 10,000 liras, pensioners are once again expecting a raise... In the first two months of the year, the hunger threshold exceeded 16,000 liras, while the poverty threshold approached 53,000 liras.

With local elections approaching, an expectation for a flat-rate pension increase emerged. However, the flat-rate increase was replaced by promotions following the announcement by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Pensioners reacted to the situation, commenting, "There is nothing here to be considered good news. We were already receiving promotions. This is not a promise, it is a deception."

WILL THERE BE A FLAT-RATE INCREASE FOR PENSIONERS?

The highest promotion pensioners can receive will be a maximum of 12,000 liras. Public banks will cover this. While the debate over pension increases continues, AKP Group Chairman in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Abdullah Güler stated that a flat-rate increase for pensioners is not on the agenda.

Speaking on Büyük Sivas Haber TV, when asked about the opposition's expectation that 'a 5,000 lira flat-rate increase will be given to pensioners,' Güler said, "We must display a seriousness that will not disappoint our people.

We do not have any such study at the moment. If our Ministry and our President were to request such a study, we would be informed. But we do not have a 5,000 or 10,000 [lira] flat-rate increase in our hands as the opposition claims; we have no such study. I do not know what they based this on, or what figures or budget data they used as criteria. The AK Party has no such study in this direction," he said.