13.05.2026 17:40
DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan criticized the government and the main opposition over recent transfers during the New Path Party's group meeting. Babacan said, "The government is not ashamed to transfer people it subjected to heavy insults until yesterday into its party," while also targeting the main opposition over the badges pinned on deputies. Babacan stated, "The quality in politics has dropped significantly, it's a shame for this country. As the New Path group, we are representatives of clean politics."
DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan spoke at the New Path Party's group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Babacan stated that the Turkish economy is not improving, saying, 'Inflation distorts people's perception of money and prices, increasing the burden of life day by day. You cannot talk about economic growth in a country where the lowest pension is 20,000 lira, and millions of retirees are forced to get by on a salary far below the hunger line. What will our retirees do with this money? Pay rent, bills, buy clothes, or go shopping? We have Eid al-Adha ahead of us, so let's remember; when the holiday bonus application first started, a retiree could buy a sacrificial sheep with their bonus. The holiday bonus was introduced so that a citizen struggling to buy meat could sacrifice an animal during Eid al-Adha.
'NOT GIVING AN INTERIM HIKE TO THE MINIMUM WAGE IS OPPRESSION'
Today, this is impossible; while the bonus is 4,000 lira, the price of a sacrificial animal announced by the Diyanet is 18,000 lira. What does 18,000 lira mean? Roughly one month's pension. We say that holiday bonuses should be at least equal to one month's pension. That is, our retirees should receive 14 salaries, not 12. You used to say, 'Don't look at the numbers, what matters is purchasing power.' The purchasing power in our country is evident; today, whether you look at the numbers or purchasing power, the government has failed. You have left the people with neither purchasing power nor strength. Today, forget about buying a sacrificial animal, our retirees have reached a point where they cannot even meet basic needs. What needs to be done is clear; immediately equalize the holiday bonus to one month's pension. Give our retirees 14 salaries a year, not 12, that is the solution. Also, definitely give an interim hike to the minimum wage on July 1st. While the minimum wage remains stagnant at 28,000 lira, the hunger line has risen to 34,000 lira. Not giving an interim hike to the minimum wage is oppression, a violation of rights, and a sin against people,' he said.
'WE ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF CLEAN POLITICS'
Babacan, expressing his shame at the current state of Turkish politics, stated, 'The government, without any shame, transfers people they heavily insulted just yesterday into their party. Look at the main opposition; those who considered it a skill to invite and pin badges on deputies from parties they sat at the same table with just yesterday, when others pin badges on those who leave their parties, they hurl the heaviest insults at them. The quality in politics has really dropped, it's a shame for this country. There used to be written or unwritten ethical rules. People had a sense of shame and honor. Just look at the allegations that surfaced on social media about some deputies yesterday; don't those spreading these allegations have any conscience or shame? It's disgraceful.
Entering politics does not require ceasing to be human. People are completely losing hope in politics, saying, 'Politics is dirty, corrupted.' At this very point, great duties fall upon us, there is a huge responsibility. It is we who will explain that we will lift the country out of this muddy politics. It is we who will make people say, 'Politics is not entirely corrupt. There are good and decent people within it.' Here we are, together. As the New Path group, we are the representatives of clean politics,' he said.