27.01.2026 11:23
DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan explained the formula for fixing the economy in 120 seconds if he becomes President. Babacan stated, "One of the first things to do is to turn to the media and say, 'Friends, you are free, feel free to write and draw.' Look, that took 60 seconds. At the same time, turning to the judiciary and saying in another 60 seconds, 'Our judges and prosecutors, you are now free. Do what justice requires.' It's very simple, look."
DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan, who participated in the "Close-Up" program of journalist Gizem Fidan on MK TV, evaluated the current headlines.
"THEY RUINED THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE"
Ali Babacan, the leader of the DEVA Party, who used the expressions "Give us a grocery store, they will ruin it in 6 months" at the meeting of the New Path Group held last week regarding economic management, continued his criticisms by drawing attention to the cost of living difficulties faced by citizens: "We are talking about a huge country, Turkey. When we look at retirees, they are in a ruined state; when we look at minimum wage earners, they are in a ruined state. They ruined the lives of millions of people. They would ruin a grocery store too. There is a handful of people, a network of interests, who have added wealth to their wealth. Those who have money and invest it in interest have increased their wealth. People who live by revolving credit cards are also devastated in this country; they have ruined people in debt."
"IF I WERE PRESIDENT, MY FIRST JOB WOULD BE..."
In response to the question "What would you do if you were in my place?" regarding the current economic situation, DEVA Party leader Ali Babacan gave bold messages. Babacan also explained the formula that would solve the economic troubles in the country within 120 seconds. Babacan stated, "One of the first things to do is to turn to the media and say, 'Friends, you are free, write and draw comfortably.' Look, it took 60 seconds. At the same time, turning to the judiciary and saying for another 60 seconds, 'Our judges and prosecutors, you are now free. Do what justice requires.' It's very simple, look," he expressed.
"INSTITUTIONS WILL GET BACK ON THEIR FEET IN A MONTH"
Institutions will get back on their feet in a month. Things will start to change in Turkey in a month; the nation will breathe. In six months, the entire society will breathe. At the latest, inflation will drop to a single digit in this country within two years."
"TODAY YOU CANNOT DRINK TWO CUPS OF COFFEE IN A CAFE"
Babacan explained how citizens have become impoverished by comparing the period when he was in charge of the economy with today. He mentioned that in the past, students used to go to Europe with the money they saved from their annual KYK scholarships, and retired women formed groups to go on vacation to Italy, saying, "This country has experienced these. Today, divide the four thousand lira KYK scholarship into thirty days; that's one hundred thirty-three lira a day. So today, you cannot drink two cups of coffee in a cafe."
"YOUNG PEOPLE ONCE WANTED TO LIVE IN TURKEY"
Expressing his sadness as he sees young people wanting to leave Turkey because they find it unlivable, Babacan emphasized that Turkey was once a country where young people from around the world wanted to live. DEVA leader Babacan also shared an interesting memory he had with Jim Wolfensohn, the President of the World Bank, who was 80 years old at that time: "Eighty-year-old Jim Wolfensohn, a person who has traveled to one hundred ninety-two countries in his private jet. Did you know that he wanted to live in Turkey during his retirement? He called me: 'I want to live in Turkey for a few years, if I could teach classes in schools, what should I do? I love Istanbul, I want to live there.' Turkey experienced these during a time when the rule of law worked better, when Turkey made progress in European Union negotiations, and when reason, science, and the realities of Turkey dominated the economy."