29.01.2026 14:02
Retired MP Mestan Özcan from the AK Party in Tekirdağ, who made headlines with his statements expressing that his pension is insufficient, has taken a step back. Özcan said, "These were words I said in a sincere environment, in a joking manner. Otherwise, I have no issue with the MP salary. I have not made any statement about the salary being insufficient. However, I present to the public the fact that the expenses of MPs are also high."
The statements of AK Party Tekirdağ Deputy Mestan Özcan regarding retirement salaries have become one of the most discussed topics on the agenda during an event he attended.
Özcan, who argues that his retirement salary and deputy salary are insufficient, said, "Let me put it this way; I will give you my retirement salary and my deputy salary, and you come and manage these within a month, do it. I will give you my payments and income; here you go, you handle this. They think the state provides cars to deputies. No, the state does not provide cars. They have increased the prices of all meals in the Parliament! We are eating at increased prices because of you. They have raised the prices five times."
"I SAID IT IN A JOKING MANNER"
Özcan, whose words have been widely debated, spoke to Zafer Arapkirl from BirGün TV. When reminded of his statements, "I will give you my retirement salary and my deputy salary. You come and manage these within a month," Özcan said, "To understand this conversation, you need to be with us that day, in that environment. We say this in a joking manner in that sincere environment. Otherwise, I have no problem with our deputy salaries. I have no statement about it being insufficient, but I present to the public that deputies also need to be aware of the fact that their expenses are high."
"I CAN'T HEAR" AND HUNG UP THE PHONE
In response to Arapkirli's question, "You are staying as a guest in the Parliament, how much do you pay per night," Özcan, who said he "couldn't hear the voice," ended the conversation. Although Arapkirli tried to call Mestan again, he could not reach the deputy.