Notable agenda at the AKP retreat: A barrage of questions for that minister

The AK Party's 33rd Consultation and Evaluation Meeting, held with a different format this year, drew attention with both its location and its agenda. While the retreat, which has been held in Kızılcahamam for years, took place in the Sapanca district of Sakarya this time, changes were also made to the way the meetings were conducted.

According to information obtained, despite the changing organizational structure of the meetings, the prominent agenda items were the economy and expectations regarding pension salaries.

SAPANCA PREFERRED OVER KIZILCAHAMAM

The AK Party administration moved the consultation retreat, which has been held in Kızılcahamam for many years, to Sapanca this year. Not only the location of the meeting but also the format applied was changed.

Unlike previous meetings where ministers gave long presentations, this time the questions, demands, and suggestions of the Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) members and deputies were primarily listened to. The relevant ministers also answered these questions during the meeting.

It was stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended most of the sessions.

ECONOMY AND PENSION SALARIES AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA

Economic difficulties and pension salaries were among the topics most frequently voiced by deputies at the meetings.

The deputies conveyed their demands for increasing pension salaries and strengthening the support provided to producers to the relevant ministers.

It was reported that the majority of questions, expectations, and criticisms regarding the economy were directed at Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek.

CLAIM OF "PERMANENT SOLUTION IN OCTOBER"

It was alleged that Minister Mehmet Şimşek stated at the meeting that a permanent solution regarding the lowest pension salary would be provided through a legal regulation planned to be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in October.

It was stated that the regulation in question would also include a new support model for the low-income group.

GETAD MODEL BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA

According to the information in the report, the Income Complementary Family Support (GETAD) system, which has been in preparation for a long time, is planned to be evaluated as a solution model for the lowest pension salaries.

While it was stated that the regulation is expected to come to the Parliament's agenda in October, it was expressed that with the implementation of the system, the goal is to deliver economic support directly to citizens in need instead of general increases made to the lowest pension salaries at certain periods.

INTENSE DEMANDS FOR THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

According to the report by Besti Karalar from Ekonomim, one of the names to whom the most demands were directed at the retreat was Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdülkadir Uraloğlu.

Demands regarding the construction of village roads, the completion of unfinished bridge projects, and various transportation investments were voiced by the deputies.

It was stated that the demands conveyed at the meeting were noted down one by one.

HIGH-SPEED TRAIN DEMAND FOR VAN BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA

One of the notable topics at the meeting was the demand for the establishment of a high-speed train line to Van.

According to the information in the report, the demand in question was conveyed to both President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdülkadir Uraloğlu. It was reported that the high-speed train project for Van was among the demands promised at the meeting.