31.01.2025 00:23
The proposal to raise the lowest pension payment to 14,469 lira, which is being discussed in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), has sparked debates. CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir criticized AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Leyla Usta, saying, "I see a struggle here." In response to Emir, Usta stated, "There is no need to be uncomfortable with the figures we have announced."
In the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, discussions regarding the bill proposing to increase the lowest pension from 12,500 lira to 14,469 lira occasionally raised tensions.
Speaking on the proposal, AK Party Group Deputy Chair Leyla Şahin Usta said, "We are aware that the purchasing power of our retirees receiving the lowest pension is low. This was one of our most important agenda items in 2022-23 and 2024. On this occasion, a share was allocated for our retirees and elderly as social assistance. Of course, our social aids will continue to support citizens receiving the lowest pension of 14,469 lira."
Stating that "the elderly pension has been ongoing since 2022," Usta added, "In addition to the assistance I mentioned, if there is a disabled person at home or someone in need of care, separate support is provided for them as well. In 2023, 812,694 of our elderly received 19.88 billion lira, and in 2024, 805,554 elderly received 34.76 billion lira in support. If a spouse has passed away and there is no social security, a monthly payment of 1,000 lira is made. In this context, in 2023, 82,891 women received 838.2 million lira, and in 2024, 77,122 women received 772.6 million lira in support," she stated.
"TRULY, I SEE A STRUGGLE HERE"
Following Usta, CHP Group Deputy Chair Murat Emir took the podium and said, "We are trying to understand the efforts of AK Party Group Deputy Chair Leyla Şahin Usta, but honestly, I see a struggle here," and continued: "That is; she is trying to explain 14,469 lira. You cannot explain it... In a country where the hunger threshold is 22,000 lira, you cannot explain 14,469 lira. Because you cannot explain this, you are listing social transfers here. Of course, you will make social transfers. They were done before as well. We know these figures, but there are other figures that you do not know or cannot say. We made a budget of over 14 trillion here.
Nearly 2 trillion was given to Currency Protected Deposits. What you are talking about pales in comparison to that. You have given up on 3 trillion, and there are allies in this. You are giving 4,664 lira as an elderly pension. Are you satisfied? Come and say it's good. You are drowning this place in numbers. Let's be clear. Come here and say '14,469 lira pension is not enough.' Say it boldly, come and let’s increase it, let’s do what is necessary."
USTA RETURNED TO THE PODIUM
After Emir's criticisms, Usta, who took the floor again, said, "There is no need to be disturbed by the figures we announced. We are making these aids with the understanding of a social state, and we will not hesitate to explain this."