22.01.2026 07:40
The first 8 articles of the bill proposing amendments to certain laws and the Decree Law No. 375, which includes raising the minimum pension from 16,881 lira to 20,000 lira, were accepted in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT) General Assembly convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Celal Adan to discuss the bill for amendments to certain laws and the Decree Law No. 375.
During the discussions, which occasionally experienced tensions, the seventh article of the proposal, which foresees an increase in the minimum pension, was accepted. With the proposal, the minimum pension, which was 16,881 TL, was raised to 20,000 TL with an increase of 18.40%. The 3,119 TL increase will be effective from January 1. Additionally, the minimum wage support offered to employers was increased from 1,000 TL to 1,270 TL.
With the regulation made in the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law, the minimum monthly payment amount, which is foreseen as 16,881 TL for those receiving old-age, disability, and death pensions and their beneficiaries, will also be raised to 20,000 TL starting from the payment period of January 2026.
DISCIPLINARY PENALTIES FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
According to the articles accepted in the GNAT General Assembly, a regulation is being made regarding the statute of limitations for the disciplinary penalties of public employees in the context of the Constitutional Court's annulment decision. Accordingly, if a disciplinary penalty is not imposed within a maximum of 2 years from the date the act or situation requiring the disciplinary penalty occurred, the authority to impose the penalty will expire. In the event that the disciplinary penalty is annulled by a judicial decision, the remaining disciplinary penalty can be re-established within the statute of limitations, considering the reasoning of the decision, within a maximum of 6 months if the statute of limitations is about to expire or if less than 6 months remain.
ELECTRIC SCOOTER DECISION
Regulations are being made regarding the duties of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in the Highway Traffic Law. Accordingly, the Ministry will be authorized to supervise those engaged in shared electric scooter operations and to prepare reports regarding administrative fines for those found in violation.
DISCUSSION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Before the discussions on the article of the bill regarding raising the minimum pension to 20,000 TL, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir stated, "Our nation will see who stands by the retirees and who stands against their rights."
AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Özlem Zengin stated that the opposition does not allow the Assembly to function by submitting motions on every article. Accusing opposition deputies of "lying," Zengin said, "We are the party that cares the most about retirees. The group that has received the most votes until today is the poor. You are a party that boasts about getting votes from the rich; we have come this far by getting votes from the poor of this country. We will give more when the macro balances of Turkey and our financial balances improve in the coming days."
New Way Party Group Deputy Chairman Selçuk Özdağ said, "You brought a salary of 16,881 TL, raised it to 18,839 TL, and made an increase of 18.70%. Why did you give 12.19% to those receiving salaries from SSK and also retired from Bağ-Kur? Let's correct this together."
İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez argued that the increase in pensions is insufficient, stating, "You consider 1,000 TL sufficient for this nation. We will continue to object and protect the rights and law of retirees. We will expose to our nation why you do not give money and why you do not want to give money. You will drown in this debt swamp, selling everything you have. Then you will turn around and say, 'we have no money.'
DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Sezai Temelli also expressed that the demands of opposition deputies for an increase in pensions were not heard.
Before the voting on the proposal regarding the 7th article, a roll call was made at the request of CHP deputies. Although a quorum was present, due to one deputy sending a ballot while not being present in the General Assembly Hall, CHP and İYİ Party deputies began to "occupy the podium." Following this, Deputy Speaker Celal Adan suspended the session.
After the break, Adan stated, "I manage the GNAT with great awareness. I have respect for all of you. Today, there has been a serious disrespect and rudeness in this assembly that I manage. The person who sent this paper while not being here is immoral, whoever brought it is immoral. Isn't it shameful? Sending a paper here while not being here... I want to express that I am very seriously offended. This is disrespectful. It does not suit the GNAT."
After the acceptance of the 8th article of the bill, Deputy Speaker Adan suspended the session. After the break, as the commission did not take its place, Adan closed the session to reconvene at 14:00.