Details of the Marriage Fund have been announced: The fund's source will be 'Black Sea gas', and there is no age limit!

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's campaign promise, the Marriage Fund, has been brought to the Health, Family, Labor and Social Affairs Commission with a proposal by AKP's Eyyüp Kadir İnan. 

Taking the floor at the Commission, İnan addressed the financial future concerns of young people, stating, "These concerns are global; these concerns exist in America as well as in Turkey." İnan continued his speech as follows:

"MARRIAGE CONCERN IS GLOBAL"

"We know that, by its nature, every young person carries concerns about their future, independent of their financial potential: 'How will I get married, where will I study, will I be able to stand on my own two feet?' These concerns are global; these concerns exist in America as well as in Turkey. With this legislative proposal, we aim to minimize the concerns of our youth during the process of establishing a family. We must acknowledge that there has been a great expectation among our country's youth for a long time regarding the family, the desire to establish a family, and the economic, social, and state-provided facilities required for this."

"REVENUE OF THE FAMILY FUND WILL COME FROM BLACK SEA GAS"

Regarding where the revenue for the Family and Youth Fund will be obtained, İnan pointed to the natural gas in the Black Sea. 

İnan stated the following:

"We have started to conduct our drilling operations, which we previously carried out in cooperation with other countries, with our own domestic fleet. In return for these efforts, we have secured the 710 billion cubic meters of natural gas we discovered in the Black Sea. We transported this gas from a depth of 2,200 meters under the sea to the land in a short period of three years. In the first phase of the Sakarya Gas Field Project, 10 million cubic meters of gas are produced daily. When this project reaches full capacity, 40 million cubic meters will be produced daily; this corresponds to 25 to 30 percent of our country's natural gas needs. Türkiye Petrolleri is a state-owned economic enterprise, 100 percent owned by the state; therefore, the revenue obtained from here will be transferred directly to the treasury, and from there to the family and youth fund."

"WE FORESEE THAT A SOURCE OF 5 BILLION CAN BE CREATED"

"Similarly, in line with the goals of our national energy and mining policy, our oil exploration activities are continuing rapidly. Of course, the clearing of our eastern provinces from terrorism played a very important role here. Before our latest discoveries in the Martyr Esma Çevik and Martyr Aybüke Yalçın fields in Gabar, our daily oil production was around 80 thousand barrels. With our latest discoveries, we aim to increase our daily oil production to 200 thousand barrels. This means we will meet 20 percent of our oil needs. Again, the revenue obtained from here will also be transferred to the family and youth fund. With our natural gas and oil discoveries and our work in the field of natural resources, we will bring our underground resources into the economy. This gain will reach our citizens and youth through the family and youth fund. Projections have been made regarding the size of the fund. We foresee that by transferring a 20 percent portion from the current natural gas, oil, and mineral resources, a source of at least 4.5-5 billion liras can be created."

"THERE WILL ALSO BE DONATIONS, AID, AND GRANTS"

Stating that the fund will consist of a fund management board chaired by the Deputy Minister of Treasury and Finance, and including the Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services, the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology, İnan stated that there will also be donations, aid, and grants among the fund's sources, and continued his words as follows:

"Furthermore, as I mentioned a moment ago, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance will continue to handle the secretariat operations and services. The fund's resources consist of 20 percent of the collected oil, natural gas, and mineral revenues, a portion of the revenues of other funds, repayment amounts, donations, aid, grants, and other income. Additionally, the President is granted the authority to determine the percentage rates for these amounts up to 40 percent. Furthermore, as I mentioned a moment ago, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance will continue to handle the secretariat operations and services. In order to ensure transparency regarding fund expenditures, financial information about the fund will be shared with the public at least every six months. 

THERE WILL BE NO AGE LIMIT

To keep the number of young people benefiting from this fund as high as possible, we did not specify an age limit in our law; we are not setting a limit. Age limits will be evaluated according to the characteristics of the province and region within the scope of the project, and the situation of the young people there, and will be flexed accordingly. Our goal is to reach our youth in all 81 provinces as soon as possible.

"GERGERLİOĞLU: I THINK IT SHOULD BE 250 THOUSAND LIRAS"

HEDEP Kocaeli Deputy Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu criticized the amount being 150 thousand liras, saying, "I think it should be at least 250 thousand liras." Gergerlioğlu's objection is as follows:

"Now, I ask the Commission, the proposal, and all the deputies, everyone: Let's get to the reality of the matter; I mean, can one get married with 150 thousand liras, friends? Do you think it is possible to get married with 150 thousand liras in this day and age? Let's ask this first. In an era where inflation is out of control, it creates an image as if marriage with 150 thousand liras is completely over. I think it should be at least 250 thousand liras; the amount is quite low. Also, there is the issue of age here; it is not stated clearly. If the age limit is currently thought to be in the 18-27 range, this is also incomplete; it should be at least 18-30; let me say this regarding the age limit."

In response to Gergerlioğlu's objection, İnan reiterated that there are no age limits.

News Source: 12punto