Minimum wage proposal from CHP's Emir at the TBMM General Assembly: At least 45,000 TL

The TBMM General Assembly convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Celal Adan to discuss the 'Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws,' which also includes regulations regarding the police force.

Following off-agenda speeches, 1-minute speeches by deputies, and evaluations by group deputy chairmen, the session moved on to motions submitted to the TBMM Presidency by political party groups. After the motions submitted by the New Way, IYI Party, DEM Party, and CHP were rejected, the session proceeded to the AKP's motion regarding the Parliament's working calendar.

Speaking on behalf of the New Way group regarding the motion, Hatay Deputy Necmettin Çalışkan said, "We are facing a classic Tuesday AK Party motion. They have a single motion: to make the Parliament work longer. We are all ready, we want to work, but let's be clear that this proposal is nothing more than blackmail against the deputies. Look, it is impossible to understand who wrote this and how. First of all, the proposal says, 'until the discussions on the Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws are completed in today's session on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.' Are you kidding me? This law will not finish at three in the morning," he stated.

'SUCH A DISGRACE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN'

IYI Party Istanbul Deputy Buğra Kavuncu stated that as of last week, the AK Party had lost its eligibility to submit motions regarding the working order of the Parliament, saying, "Is submitting fake ballots part of the working order, friends? This is the Gazi Parliament; it has legislative and oversight duties. Peace, order, and social stability are maintained in the country within the framework of the laws enacted by this Parliament. This Parliament, whose duty is to make laws for the country and the people, was shaken last week by the AK Party's ballot scandal. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey is discussing an international agreement, and 79 deputies send ballots; only 4 of these 79 deputies are in the General Assembly; this is detected during the roll call. Such a disgrace has never been seen or experienced in the history of this great Parliament. What kind of motion are you submitting now regarding the working order of the Parliament?" he asked.

'IF YOU ARE GOING TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS AND RETIREES, LET'S WORK'

Noting that the TBMM will once again work during the summer, DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said, "As the DEM Party group, we are here and ready to work, but shouldn't we ask each other why we are working? Why will we work? If we are going to work for the benefit of this society, for the benefit of the minimum wage earner and the retiree who cannot make ends meet, then by all means, let's work. When July comes, when the interim raise comes, if we are going to make a salary increase for the minimum wage earner that is truly worthy of human dignity, let's work together. If we are going to make a humane salary increase for retirees, let's work," she said.

'LET'S MAKE THE MINIMUM WAGE AT LEAST 45,000 LIRA'

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir, regarding the motion, said, "Friends, it is said, 'Let's work in July'; let's work, we have no objection, but let's pass the urgent laws and articles that our citizens are waiting for, one by one, and pass them by giving good news to our citizens. For example, 5,000 lira of the minimum wage has eroded away. It is a shame, it is a sin, there is a burden of responsibility. Let's make the minimum wage at least 45,000 lira. We need to increase the base salaries of retirees every time. Why? Because currently, the average retiree salary is 23,000 lira, and the lowest retiree salary is 20,000 lira. How can we accept this? Look, this is urgent; bring it whenever you want, let's really do this," he evaluated.

MOTION ACCEPTED

Afterward, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Celal Adan opened the motion to a vote. The motion was accepted with the votes of AKP and MHP members. Accordingly, work will continue in the General Assembly today until the proposal containing regulations regarding the police force is accepted. In today's session, the Court of Accounts presidency elections will be held, and then the General Assembly will remain open until the proposal containing regulations regarding expert sergeants is accepted. On Thursday, discussions will begin on the Turkish Red Crescent Law Proposal.

RENEWABLE ENERGY PLANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND SAUDI ARABIA

Later, the 'Draft Law on the Approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Regarding Renewable Energy Plant Projects' and the Foreign Affairs Committee Report were opened for open voting. Since the evaluations of political party representatives were completed in the session held last Thursday, the voting proceeded. As a result of the voting, the international agreement was accepted and enacted with the votes of AKP and MHP deputies. Within the scope of the agreement, solar and wind energy projects that will reach a total installed capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) in Turkey will be implemented by Saudi Arabian companies. In the first phase of the 5,000-megawatt capacity, it is planned to establish solar power plants with a total installed capacity of 2,000 megawatts, each being 1,000 megawatts, in Sivas and Karaman. The electricity produced within the scope of the projects will be purchased by Turkey for 30 years.

DEFENSE INDUSTRY COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND BRAZIL

In the General Assembly, discussions began on the 'Draft Law on the Approval of the Defense Industry Cooperation Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Together with the Notes' and the Foreign Affairs Committee Report. As political party representatives did not take the floor regarding the agreement, the articles were submitted to a vote one by one. The agreement was accepted and enacted with the votes of AKP and MHP deputies.

SALE PRICE OF IMMOVABLES BELONGING TO LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS CAN BE PAID IN CASH OR INSTALLMENTS

Then the proposal was moved to. As a result of the discussions, 3 more articles of the proposal were accepted. Accordingly, the sale price of immovables belonging to local administrations can be paid in cash or in installments. In order for the sale price to be paid in installments, at least 25 percent of the sale price determined by the tender to be held will be paid in cash, and the remainder will be paid in 12 installments within 2 years, together with legal interest. The conditions for the payment method, installment period, and number of installments will also be determined in the tender to be held. In installment sales, except for the down payment of the fee received, the title deed will be transferred to the buyer if a letter of guarantee is provided or if a mortgage is placed on the sold immovable in favor of the administration. In cases where a letter of guarantee is not provided or a legal mortgage is not provided, the transfer of the immovable cannot be made until all installments are paid. In installment sales regarding immovables whose title deed has been transferred to the buyer, if the buyer cannot fulfill their responsibilities, the administration will convert the letter of guarantee into cash or follow up by converting the mortgage into cash and collect the remaining debt with interest. In tenders for sale, lease, barter, and establishment of limited real rights, a temporary guarantee of up to 30 percent, not less than 3 percent of the estimated price of the immovable subject to the tender, may be taken.

VAT EXEMPTION FOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE EARTHQUAKE ZONE EXTENDED UNTIL 2028

On the other hand, since the projects, activities, and investments carried out in the earthquake zone centered in Kahramanmaraş have not been completed within the foreseen period, the date for being excluded from the scope of Value Added Tax (VAT) will be updated to December 31, 2028. In addition, an amendment is being made to the 'VAT Law.' Accordingly, the transfer of commercial plates belonging to taxis, dolmuş, minibuses, and public service vehicles owned by income tax payers in the real method will be exempt from VAT. A regulation will be made to extend the obligation to register vehicles that can be registered in an electronic environment within 3 working days from the date of sale to 15 working days, due to the fact that this is done at the stage of delivery to the final point, especially in fleet sales.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CLOSED

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Celal Adan closed the session to convene on Wednesday, June 24, after the 16th article was accepted.

News Source: 12punto