The purchasing power of the retiree bonus has eroded over the years

CHP Mersin Deputy Gülcan Kış highlighted how the holiday bonuses for retirees have lost value over the years with a striking example. Kış stated that while 6 grams of gold could be purchased with the 1,000 lira holiday bonus in 2018, 25,200 lira is needed today to purchase the same amount of gold.

Kış harshly criticized the government's statements regarding the increase in holiday bonuses, saying, "A 4,000 lira bonus means selling hope to retirees with dry figures. Today, the bonus a retiree should receive to reach 6 grams of gold should have been 25,000 lira."

Gülcan Kış made assessments not only regarding the bonus but also based on general economic conditions. She stated that in an environment where annual food inflation exceeds 70% and rents in metropolitan cities reach 30,000 lira, it has become impossible for retirees to meet their basic needs. She added, "Today, a retiree cannot even go to the market with the salary they receive."

"RETIREES SPEND THE HOLIDAY IN DEBT"

Kış expressed that retirees spend their holidays in debt and their peace of mind is interrupted by anxiety. "The price of a kilo of cheese has reached 400 lira, and a kilo of meat has exceeded 600 lira. Today, a retiree cannot give pocket money to their grandchild, nor can they buy new shoes for the holiday," she said.

Explaining the erosion in the purchasing power of retirees with concrete figures, Kış reminded that the 6 grams of gold that could be purchased with the 1,000 lira bonus in 2018 can only be reached with 25,200 lira today, stating, "Today, a 4,000 lira bonus is given, but the retiree's real loss reaches 21,000 lira."

Kış called on the government to compensate for the losses of retirees in a realistic manner, saying, "Instead of an approach that presents 4,000 lira as a success, a fair social policy that will compensate for the 25,000 lira loss should be followed."