Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statements regarding “improvements” for retirees, the Ankara Branch of the All Retirees Union held a press conference in front of the TurkStat (TÜİK) building. Gathering under the slogan “We cannot make ends meet,” the retirees stated that current pensions are insufficient to cover basic needs.
In the statement, it was noted that the lowest pension is 23 thousand 552 liras, and it was emphasized that it is impossible to sustain life with this income in the face of the high cost of living and rent expenses. Reminding that inflation data directly affects salary increases, the retirees called on TurkStat to “base its calculations on real data.”
Adem Çiftçi, Ankara Branch President of the All Retirees Union, reacted against the presentation of pensions as if they were a favor. Stating that retirees have contributed to the country for years in production, public services, and various sectors, Çiftçi expressed that millions of retirees are being left to face poverty today.
REACTION TO INFLATION AND PENSIONS
Çiftçi pointed out that the inflation rates announced, especially during periods when salary increases are calculated, determine the income of retirees. Recalling that monthly inflation was announced as 0.89 percent in December 2025 and 4.48 percent in January 2026, Çiftçi argued that retirees and workers have suffered income losses based on this data.
In the union's statement, it was stated that the retirees' expectation for a raise cannot be reduced to a debate over an increase of only a few thousand liras. They demanded that the lowest pension be raised above the poverty line, that the base pension application be ended, that a flat-rate additional raise be granted to compensate for past losses, and that an adjustment law be enacted.
Retirees also demanded that healthcare services be made free of charge, that the right to unionize with collective bargaining be legally guaranteed, and that direct rent support be provided in the face of high rents. A call was also made for basic needs such as electricity, water, and natural gas to be brought under public guarantee for retiree households.
Çiftçi concluded his statement by saying, “We are not waiting for our rights as if they were a favor; we are in the streets to reclaim the price of the lives we have already spent. Not for money, but for our dignity.”
News Source: 12punto
