Mehmet Şimşek's 'austerity' suggestion to governors: 'Sell your official vehicles and buy a TOGG'

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek attended the Governors' Meeting organized by the Ministry of Interior. 

According to the report by Ayşegül Kahvecioğlu from Milliyet, Şimşek stated the following in his remarks there:

"REDUCING INFLATION TO SINGLE DIGITS..."

"We are implementing a program that will once again bring Turkey to the forefront in the global development race. One of the main elements of this program is price stability. What we mean by this is reducing inflation to single digits. It is currently very high; we are continuing our path with a program consistent with global rules to bring it down. If we lower inflation, we can achieve all of our macroeconomic goals.

"I USE MY NOTEBOOKS DOWN TO THE LAST PAGE"

"Austerity measures are important for all ministries, but they are very important for our governors. You are all obligated to comply with austerity measures. Sensitivity is required in this area, from vehicle usage to promotional expenses. If we fully comply with the budget in 2024, we will have a deficit of 2.7 trillion liras. How will we finance that deficit? Through debt. Financing it with debt in today's high-interest environment means the country's resources go to interest payments instead of investment and services. Therefore, you also have a duty. I use my notebooks down to the last page. I don't use white paper or anything like that. The money we spend is not our father's money; it is the nation's money. Please show maximum sensitivity regarding austerity measures. We are obligated to have a modest public understanding, far from ostentation, in every field.

"THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMALITY"

Monitoring local investments is very valuable to us. If you notice any informal activity in a place, direct us. The support you will provide regarding inspections in the entertainment sector is important. The detection of informally sold goods, rental income, and daily rentals are issues. Fuel, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages are areas where informality is incredibly attractive.

The budget for social assistance this year is 497 billion TL. Total investments across Turkey, excluding those related to the earthquake, amount to 800 billion TL. We need to pay these only to those who deserve them. Please do not give them to those who do not deserve them. Let the teams below inspect thoroughly. There is so much informality in this country. A person has wealth, but there is nothing visible."

TOGG SUGGESTION

It was noted that when answering questions after the meeting, Şimşek told some governors who said they wanted to purchase a TOGG, "You can sell your official vehicles and buy a TOGG."