22.01.2026 21:00
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel addressed MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli regarding retirement salaries during a television program he attended. Özel said, "We said 28 thousand lira; even if it's not realistic, let them say what is realistic. Mr. Bahçeli should make a gesture and set the record straight."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made a striking statement regarding the pension salary of 20 thousand lira. Özel called on MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli to take the lead in raising pension salaries to 28 thousand lira.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S "PENSION SALARY" STATEMENT
CHP leader Özel said the following in his statement on Karar TV: "Looking at the arithmetic in the Parliament, the AK Party has 275 members, and the MHP has 47 members. Together, they provide the majority and pass any law they want. When the AK Party and MHP are united, we are always in the minority.
"BAHÇELİ SAID 'WAGE OF POVERTY'"
This figure caused an uproar among retirees. All parties reacted. Bahçeli also said, 'This is a wage of poverty.' I said, 'If everyone keeps their word, you are in the majority.' There was no objection from the MHP until the day before yesterday. 'We are coalition partners, but we are not partners in power; the CHP is trying to sow discord among us over these salaries,' it was said. We are not doing such a thing.
"WHAT WE WANT IS NOT A VERY BIG THING"
What we want is not a very big thing. The average pension salary was twice the lowest pension salary, including the year 2019. Today it is 23/20. They have united all retirees at the bottom. In a few years, all retirees will receive the lowest pension salary.
"LET DEVLET BEY SHOW GREATNESS, CUT THE DRAMA"
Our proposal was rejected. We said, '28 thousand lira.' Even if it is not realistic, let them say what is realistic. Devlet Bey is our elder. Let him show some greatness. Let him cut the drama, so to speak. Let him say, 'The acceptable amount is 24.' For the sake of Devlet Bey, we will vote for every figure above 20 thousand. We will vote 'no' for this 20 thousand lira. We were a bit hopeful last week, but our hopes were dashed with Devlet Bey's approach.
BAHÇELİ: WE ARE COALITION PARTNERS, NOT PARTNERS IN POWER
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, who used the expressions "wage of poverty" for the lowest pension salary raised to 20 thousand lira, said the following in his party's last group meeting: "The Nationalist Movement Party is a partner of the People's Alliance, but it is not a partner in power. Özgür Özel's remarks regarding retirees have once again backfired on him.
With his latest speech in Hatay, he aimed to sow discord within the People's Alliance and to set up a scheme of discord over our retirees. If we do not support their proposals, they would accuse us of not standing up for retirees; to this sweet water cunning, I say let it go, we will not support your proposal."