CHP Chairman Özgür Özel: If necessary, we will all go out and collect the trash

Making a statement in Bursa regarding the steps taken concerning the social security premium debts of municipalities to the Social Security Institution (SGK), Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel said, “We did not come here to make excuses. If necessary, we will all go out and collect the trash.”

Speaking about the decision announced by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to collect the municipalities' SGK premium debts from the Iller Bank allocation, Özel stated, “This is an attempted financial coup. Trying to make those elected by the people unable to provide services and trying to condemn the nation to an unmanaged municipality is an attempted financial coup. Sooner or later, do not attempt to stage a coup against those elected by this nation.”

"IF NECESSARY, WE WILL GO OUT AND COLLECT THE TRASH"

Stating that the steps taken aim to make municipalities unable to function, Özel said, “I had said that CHP rule suits both Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Mustafakemalpaşa. It had always been on my mind. The ruling party in a district named Mustafakemalpaşa should have been the Republican People's Party. In a place with such love for Atatürk, the results should have been like this.

It is a very large geography, taken over under very difficult conditions and with very large debts. There is a 150 million lira debt to the SGK alone. Erdoğan has come out and says he will deduct it from the Iller Bank allocation. He is saying that regardless of their political views, my party did not win in Mustafakemalpaşa, so I am punishing them all. He says he will cut the money.

Tayyip Bey, you are saying that the AK Party members ate the meal, and you will pay the bill. The hope here is that services will be disrupted and citizens will regret voting for the CHP. I am answering: you will be waiting a long time. Don't send the money, let them not collect the trash, let them not be able to provide services. We did not come here to make excuses. If necessary, we will all go out and collect the trash,” he said.

"AGRICULTURAL LAND THE SIZE OF THE NETHERLANDS HAS BEEN LOST"

Stating that agricultural lands are eroding day by day, Özel said, “The most important issue is agriculture; compared to 22 years ago, an area the size of the Netherlands has been lost. In the Karacabey and Mustafakemalpaşa plains, they are buying tomatoes, one of the most important sources of income, for 1 lira and 75 kuruş. I will give some good news from here. We have always said it. The Republican People's Party cannot solve all problems through municipalities, but it will be a balm for the wound. I am calling out to melon and watermelon producers. We will not leave a single watermelon or melon in the field. Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey is buying them all. We will neither victimize the producer nor will we leave families who cannot afford melons and watermelons in markets and greengrocers on these hot summer days without help,” he said.

"IT IS AN ATTEMPTED FINANCIAL COUP"

Describing the steps taken against municipalities as an 'attempted financial coup', Özel said, “Erdoğan says he has suffered a lot from coup attempts. As someone who said 'let's open the closed parliament' on the night of July 15, who went to the institution when it opened, who made the speech, and who stood tall against that coup, I am saying this. That was a military coup. It is someone saying 'I will rule by force of arms.' On March 31, 2019, Ekrem İmamoğlu won Istanbul.

They gave the mandate, then they canceled the election. They said we would slap the CHP with an Ottoman slap. The nation saw this legal coup. They went to the ballot box and buried the AK Party's candidate on that date. Just as the nation stood behind politicians during the military coup that day, they stood behind the person they elected during the judicial coup carried out against İmamoğlu that day.

I am warning Erdoğan. This is an attempted financial coup. Trying to make those elected by the people unable to provide services and trying to condemn the nation to an unmanaged municipality is an attempted financial coup. Sooner or later, do not attempt to stage a coup against those elected by this nation,” he said.

"EITHER PROTECT THE FARMERS OR QUIT THE JOB"

Pointing out that high inflation is caused by high interest rates, Özel said, “While 1 percent support should be given according to their own laws, they deprive the villagers of this and do not even give one-fifth of it. Last year it was 178 billion, this year it is 480 billion. The government that makes the master of the nation miserable, this work you are doing is not work. Currently, the average age of farmers in Turkey is 58. This should be 35. Young people are not engaged in agriculture. 3 out of every 4 young farmers say they will find another job.

When the time comes, you say Turkey has no friends but us. The reason for high food prices is your bad agricultural policies. Either protect these farmers or quit this job. The burden is not on me, it is on you. You said you would lower interest rates and inflation. You got votes for this. Interest rates have been rising since you arrived. Life is prohibitively expensive. Everyone is miserable. He says I gave 33 billion to retirees. If the lowest pension were the minimum wage as I said, not 12,500, the money coming out of your pocket would have been 100 billion. He says there is no money.

The debt of 43 companies he wiped out last year was 660 billion. If he had taken that 660 billion, the lowest pension could have been 17,500 lira. That's not enough, the minimum wage could have been 25,000 lira. The base price for tea could have been 25 lira, wheat 15 lira, and the base price for hazelnuts could have been the price designed by the chambers of agriculture. Melons and watermelons would not have been left in the field,” he said.

"TAKE OFF THE BURDEN, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM"

Stating that they are ready for power with the support they receive from citizens, Özel said, “Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, if you look after the retiree, the laborer, and the farmer, there will be a livelihood. If there is no livelihood, there will eventually be an election. As the CHP, we are with every victim wherever they are. Among us are victims of internship and apprenticeship. They say I have worked since 1986, my rights have been violated. We will get your rights together.

There are those who had to work for 17 years because they were insured one year late. We will get your rights together. There are TOKİ victims. Debts cannot be paid. Next week, we will once again demand the rights of TOKİ victims in Parliament, we will submit a motion. No matter how much we say it, Erdoğan does not do it. He does not like the poor, he likes the rich. That is why we are no longer asking him.

If you cannot carry the retiree, the laborer, the farmer, take off the burden. We are ready to take care of them. We will handle it all. Wherever there is a victim, whatever they are waiting for, do not wait for it from this government anymore; the people's government is coming, give your support, let's change this order,” he said.

News Source: İHA