Palace expenses increased by 5,000 percent: '723 thousand minimum wage earners'

CHP Deputy Chairman Burhanettin Bulut has calculated the 10-year balance sheet of the Presidential Palace. 

Reminding that the minimum wage is 17,002 TL, Bulut emphasized that the Palace expenditure, which was 244 million 631 thousand 156 TL in 2014, was equivalent to the salaries of approximately 290 thousand minimum wage earners, while in 2024, the budget of approximately 12.3 billion TL is equivalent to the salaries of 723,444 minimum wage earners.

EMPHASIS ON WAGE EARNERS AND RETIREES

Emphasizing that millions of retirees are condemned to survive on salaries far below the hunger threshold, Bulut stated, "While the Palace's expenditure in 2014 was equivalent to the salaries of approximately 250 thousand retirees, this figure rose to 984 thousand retiree salaries in 2024. While the Palace, which is a burden on the nation's back, tells millions of retirees 'you should get by on 12,500 lira,' the Presidency is spending recklessly. While the Palace does not economize on its prestige, minimum wage earners and retirees are becoming poorer every day."

Highlighting that the Palace's budget has increased by 5,000 percent (4,927 percent) in 10 years, Burhanettin Bulut pointed out that during the 10-year period, the minimum wage deemed appropriate for citizens increased by 2,000 percent (1,909 percent), while retiree pensions increased by 1,000 percent (1,175 percent).