Economic crisis deepens: Number of tradespeople who closed their shops in the first 11 months of the year revealed

Drawing attention to the rising number of bankruptcies and closed businesses, CHP Manisa Deputy Bekir Başevirgen announced that a total of 102,976 tradespeople ceased operations in the first 11 months of the year, a figure that corresponds to a monthly average of 9,361.

Emphasizing that this picture shows that approximately 312 tradespeople are experiencing economic collapse every day, Başevirgen also reminded that as of January 1, 2026, some tradespeople and businesses will be taxed under the actual procedure instead of the simple procedure.

Başevirgen said, "With this decision, hundreds of thousands of tradespeople will now pay more taxes. Another blow will be dealt by this decision to tradespeople who are already rapidly closing their shops. This is an alarm, a declaration of bankruptcy, and those responsible are clear."

CHP Deputy Bekir Başevirgen made evaluations regarding the increase in closed businesses and issued a written statement on the subject.

"102,976 TRADESPEOPLE CLOSED THEIR SHOPS IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF THE YEAR"

Criticizing the government's economic policies with harsh words, Başevirgen said, "While the government in Turkey continues to tell fairy tales that the economy is improving and Turkey is soaring, the reality on the street has long since raised the white flag of bankruptcy. In the first 11 months of the year, 102,976 tradespeople closed their shops. This means that every day, an average of 312 tradespeople and their families lose their jobs, their bread, and their hope. This picture is not a 'natural process,' but the result of a management preference. Tradespeople struggling with high inflation are being crushed under exorbitant rents, successive taxes and fees, social security premiums, electricity-water-natural gas bills, and inaccessible loans. While small businesses are told to 'hang in there,' red carpets are rolled out for chain markets and big capital," he said.

"THE ECONOMY IS MEASURED NOT BY NUMBERS, BUT BY CLOSED SHUTTERS"

Stating that the closures cannot be seen as isolated cases, Başevirgen said, "While the government paints rosy pictures in warm halls, shops in neighborhoods are going dark one by one. These closures are not isolated, they are systematic." Başevirgen assessed, "In a country where 312 tradespeople go bankrupt every day, the economic management cannot speak of success. This is an alarm, a declaration of bankruptcy, and those responsible are clear. The economy is not measured by numbers, but by the sound of closing shutters, and those shutter sounds have risen to a deafening level today."

"THE NUMBER OF BANKRUPT TRADESPEOPLE MAY INCREASE IN 2026"

Pointing out that the change to be made in the tax system as of 2026 will create a new burden, Başevirgen said, "With this decision, hundreds of thousands of tradespeople such as taxi drivers, minibus drivers, repairmen, restaurant owners, and jewelers will now pay more taxes. Another blow will be dealt by this decision to tradespeople who are already rapidly closing their shops. The year 2026 will be even more difficult for tradespeople who are already barely keeping their shops running. Unfortunately, with this decision, the number of tradespeople closing their shops will increase even further in 2026. We call out to the government; take your hands off the pockets of the minimum wage earners to whom you do not give an interim raise, the retirees whom you have condemned to hunger with pocket-money-like raises, and the small tradespeople whom you have crushed under the tax burden," he said.