YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at the Harvest Festival Public Meeting held at the Kırlangıç Life Center Grass Area in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir. In his speech, Özel included messages regarding both the problems experienced by olive producers and the upcoming elections.
Stating that Turkey is among the leading countries in the world in olive and olive oil production, Özel said that, despite this, the same level of success has not been achieved in exports. Expressing that producers are facing low purchase prices, rising costs, and marketing problems, Özel argued that Tariş has lost its decisive role in the market.
Stating that they will support producer cooperatives if they come to power, Özel said they will treat olives and olive oil as strategic products and prevent producers from suffering losses through a base price application. Özel also noted that they will provide support for the promotion of products in world markets.
Reacting to the payment of different daily wages to female and male producers, Özel stated that they will not accept women doing the same work receiving lower wages. Özel said, "Whoever pays a woman a lower daily wage because she is a woman will find us against them, my brother. Such a system cannot exist."
EMPHASIS ON LIVELIHOOD GUARANTEE FOR OLIVE GROWERS
In his speech, Özel promised support for the agricultural sector, especially olive producers. Saying, "When the YENİ Party comes to power, there will be no transition guarantee for the rich, but a livelihood guarantee for the olive grower," Özel said they will also work for grape, hazelnut, pistachio, vegetable, fruit, and citrus producers.
Bringing up the additional customs duty imposed by the US on olive oil, Özel referred to the relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump, arguing that this situation does not benefit the producer in Turkey. Özel used the expression, "May such friendship not exist."
Making assessments regarding the economy, Özel said that there has been a crisis ongoing since 2018. Stating that the hunger threshold is 38 thousand liras and the poverty threshold is 124 thousand liras, Özel noted that retirement pensions remain far below the hunger threshold.
Özel also criticized the government's preparation for new steps regarding retirees, claiming that this is the result of the reaction seen in polls. Arguing that the AK Party's vote share among retirees has declined significantly, Özel said, "The retiree is asking Erdoğan, 'Where did you say there was no money?'"
In his speech, Özel also touched upon the allegations he described as a "fund crisis," arguing that the cost reflected to the public is growing. Özel said they have submitted their legislative proposals on this issue and will continue to follow the process.
In his election message, calling on voters from different political tendencies, Özel stated that the door of the YENİ Party is open to "all democrats." Özel said, "We will unite at the ballot box with those we have not been able to unite with until today. We will change this government. This election will be an election where democrats unite against autocrats. The one-man rule will go, and the nation itself will come."
Touching on his party's establishment process and previous election results, Özel emphasized change and self-criticism. Saying they founded the YENİ Party out of "necessity," Özel stated that the party set out with the goal of coming to power.
At the end of his speech, Özel called on voters to go to the ballot box and asked them not to fall into despair. Saying, "We will reach the ballot box, we will win that election," Özel reiterated his claim to change the government.
News Source: 12punto
