Republican People's Party Chairman Özgür Özel: Revaluation rate should be reduced by 50 percent

Republican People's Party Chairman Özgür Özel said in his speech at the meeting where he came together with provincial chairmen that the lowest pension should be at the level of the minimum wage.

Özel said, “In fact, inflation has decimated pensions. Despite all our legislative proposals and our struggle, the lowest pension is at a ridiculous point like 7,500 TL. It is at a point that tests retirees with hunger. This needs to be increased to at least the minimum wage level. Those who said during the election period that they would make improvements to the lowest pension turned this into a one-time bonus after the election. They made a regulation that would not heal any wounds. In this, they also left out working retirees. However, they did not sit down and think about why a retiree works. We objected, we raised our voices, we spoke, you spoke. Finally, this mistake was reversed. The reversed action is to give the 5,000 TL bonus to all retirees. However, this should be immediately reflected in salaries, and the lowest pension should be at the level of the minimum wage. The minimum wage also needs to be at a level where one can live humanely. We are once again drawing the government's attention to this issue. The most important problem of retirees and civil servants is the rising rents and the exorbitant increases in rents. The President was surprised and angry at the rent increases on Friday. What they are surprised at is a law they passed themselves, which we said would not be a solution. No one obeys the law. No regulation to be made without the state taking responsibility and considering both sides is correct. What is done here is to pit the landlord and the tenant against each other. We think that the social state must intervene and provide support from the right place to the people crushed under these rent increases. We remind the President of this: To be surprised and angry at those who do not obey the law, you must first obey the constitution yourself. I express that someone who does not obey the constitution should not be surprised that the citizen obeys the law, and that in a place where it is so difficult to bear even the simplest consequences of removing this from being a constitutional state, the dire consequences that will emerge must be taken into account,” he said.

“REVALUATION RATE SHOULD BE REDUCED BY 50 PERCENT”

Making statements about the revaluation rate, the Republican People's Party Chairman stated that the rate should be reduced by 50 percent.

Özel said, “We are facing an increase in the revaluation rate of 58.5 percent, an increase that will affect all citizens without distinguishing between poor and unemployed. The President has an authority here. He is authorized to increase this by 50 percent or reduce it by 50 percent. The 2024 inflation target is 36 percent. So, if you believe in this inflation target you have set, if you want everyone to make correct pricing in line with the inflation target, you must first show sincerity yourself. These fees should not be 58.5 percent, but should be reduced by your authority, and you must ensure that the tax and fee the citizen will pay in the coming period is not at the 60 percent limit. We are following this carefully. If those who say inflation will be 36 percent in 2024 are sincere, they must reduce the fee you will pay and the tax you will pay by 50 percent. We demand this and we will follow it,” he said.

“TURKEY HAS A CIVIL CONSTITUTION PROBLEM”

In his statement, Özel also touched upon the issue of the constitution. The CHP Chairman used the following expressions regarding the subject: “Turkey has a constitution problem, a civil constitution problem. There is a constitution problem that sees the poor, sees the woman, sees the disadvantaged, sees the environment, and will take the support of the whole society from a very correct place for all of these. But Turkey also has a problem of will to make a constitution. For constitutions to be timeless texts, to be texts suitable for everyone who comes, and to be passed on from generation to generation by strengthening, they must be made for everyone born. It is obvious how a constitution made for Erdoğan is insufficient for Erdoğan in a few years, and insufficient for Erdoğan's own unbridled demands for authority and intentions. It has been seen that just as a garment tailored for someone does not fit everyone, it does not fit him after a while either. We have always been and will continue to be there for a libertarian constitution at universal standards that covers the whole society, embraces everyone, embraces everyone in Turkey with equal citizenship, expands fundamental rights and freedoms, makes Turkey a state of law, and protects women, the disabled, the poor, the insecure, and the environment. However, we have never been and will never be part of an effort prepared in the kitchen of the People's Alliance and imposed on the nation's nose, which ignores the Constitution, de-constitutionalizes Turkey, and demands new powers from Erdoğan. The Republican People's Party has never been and will never be part of a change that worries women and young people and intends to suspend the rule of law.”

MEMBER CAMPAIGN SPECIAL FOR THE 100TH YEAR

Özel said, “I describe our congress as a congress where there is no loser. There is no loser of the congress, but the winner will be this party first, but the main winner will be Turkey. I also want my provincial chairmen to make an effort on two issues. One of them is the membership campaign we will start next week. Right now, there is great excitement and great hope in all provinces after our congress. There were many member registrations last week, we were happy. But what we are really happy about is this: 73 percent of the new members are men and women under 30. It is necessary to see this energy. We are launching a membership campaign in our 100th year. We will not set targets from the headquarters. Set realistic targets but push yourselves. See the lights in the eyes of those who have Atatürk in their hearts and a strong Turkey in their hearts, bring them to their father's house, register them to Atatürk's party. I want this from you. The doors of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk are wide open to all our citizens. Your place in that house is the head of the table,” he said.

SATISFACTION SURVEYS ARE STARTING

Stating that they will start 'satisfaction surveys' for CHP municipalities, Özel said, “My second expectation from you is regarding the local government elections. We will manage a process that we are all obliged to succeed in, aiming for local election success, without creating any resentment, in peace and friendship, by determining the right candidates, determining the right methods, without leaving anyone behind, and exceeding the success in 2019. We have no promises made to anyone other than the 3 metropolitan cities announced by our previous chairman. I have only one promise made, I will do whatever is necessary to be successful in the local elections. We will all contribute to this process together. We are starting our satisfaction surveys in this process as of Monday. 7 different structures will conduct surveys. We will conduct the most accurate satisfaction surveys by auditing the results they produce both with artificial intelligence and with the most advanced techniques of statistical science. All our mayors who are in the hearts of the citizens and who are ahead of when they were elected are also in our hearts. We will share that measurement and evaluation with our organization. I will make the decision together with our organization. We have not taken a step back from the primary election under the supervision of the organization, and we will not, I express this here,” he said.

News Source: 12punto