Step back from the AKP: Controversial 'cost of living' allowance canceled

Article 55 of the omnibus bill, which is being discussed in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) and includes the provision to grant 5,000 lira to working retirees, has been accepted. 

The regulation, which was included in the bill through a motion by AKP deputies Orhan Erdem and Necmettin Erkan and drew backlash, regarding the payment of a 45,000 lira monthly 'cost of living' allowance to Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) personnel, has been canceled. 

"WHY IS THERE DISCRIMINATION?"

According to the report by Zekeriya Albayrak from Sözcü, after voices were raised asking, "Why is there discrimination in favor of the BDDK?", this regulation, which was introduced via a motion by AKP deputies Orhan Erdem and Necmettin Erkan, was canceled following the acceptance of a motion by AKP Group Deputy Chairman Abdülhamit Gül in the TBMM General Assembly.

Article 52, which was included in the omnibus bill, was removed from the text. Thus, the decision to provide additional payments to BDDK personnel, including BDDK Chairman Şahap Kavcıoğlu, was abandoned.

ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE WAS TO BE PAID

This article introduced the provision that "an additional allowance shall be paid each month to the board chairman and members, vice chairman, presidential advisor, department head, and director, as well as professional personnel with the titles of auditor, expert, assistant auditor, and assistant expert serving in the institution, not to exceed the amount found by multiplying the figure of 60,000 by the civil servant monthly coefficient." This payment was also to be exempt from taxes.