10.01.2026 12:51
The CHP initiated a "Retiree Vigil" in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for the lowest pension regulation. CHP leader Özgür Özel, who visited the protesting CHP deputies, stated, "They are raising the salary from 19 thousand lira to 20 thousand lira. This one-thousand-lira adjustment is not acceptable." The CHP members expressed that they are expecting a better proposal for the pension regulation.
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited CHP members of parliament who initiated the 'Retiree Vigil' for the lowest pension regulation in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
"THE MOUNTAIN GAVE BIRTH TO A MOUSE" CHP Chairman Özgür Özel made a statement to the press upon exiting. Özel said, "Today is January 10, Working Journalists Day. We have made you work on this day when the Parliament is closed. Thank you for your efforts. Our members of parliament are normally supposed to be in their electoral districts, but they are all keeping vigil in the Parliament together. Because there is a public outcry and objections regarding the pension of 18,975 lira. As the main opposition party, we wanted to draw public attention to this issue by not leaving the Parliament until a regulation is made, at least until these pensions reach a compensatory level, and to mobilize the ruling party and its coalition partners on this matter. To some extent, the goal was achieved, they took action. But later, the mountain gave birth to a mouse. They said, 'We will submit our bill on Friday.' We were pleased with this. Then they are raising the pension from 19,000 lira to 20,000 lira. Just for a thousand lira, 600 members of parliament elected from 81 provinces will come here and give a thousand lira against this great expectation. Like giving pocket money to a child, as if mocking. We are faced with a proposal that does not understand the expectations in society, that does not grasp the issue, and that is merely pretending. It is not possible for us to accept this. If the proposal were genuinely at a feasible point, for example, if they had given retirees a flat increase of 5,000 or 6,000 lira, at least they would have been approaching the minimum wage they deserve, perhaps our friends would have gone until next week's work. This thousand lira proposal is really not acceptable," he stated.
"WE WILL CONTINUE THE VIGIL IF THEY LEAVE WITHOUT PASSING THIS LAW" Emphasizing that the vigil in the Parliament will continue, Özel said, "I also came today to support them, to take my place in the Parliament as a Member of Parliament from Manisa, and to participate symbolically in part of the vigil. Our friends' resistance, struggle, and efforts to keep the issue on the agenda will continue. When the proposal comes next week, we will fight for it to reach a better point in the committee and then in the General Assembly. How long will it last? We will continue to speak in the Parliament on the days it is working next week. If they close the Parliament again and leave without passing this law, we will continue our vigil. Our friends will be on vigil until the Parliament opens, until Tuesday. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, while the Parliament is working, they will participate in the activities. If they leave without passing this law on Thursday, our friends will continue the vigil. In other words, when they close this Parliament and leave, we will not allow it to be closed," he said.