12.08.2026 07:50
The Constitutional Court (AYM) consolidated the second application regarding the demand for an 8,077 lira across-the-board raise not reflected to civil servant retirees in 2023 with the main file. While legal experts evaluate this step as a strong signal that the final decision may be announced very soon; with a positive outcome from the Court, it is expected that 25,000 lira will be added to retirement pensions and lump-sum payments of up to 1 million lira per person will be made for retroactive rights losses.
While retired civil servants' eyes and ears were turned to the decision expected from the Constitutional Court, the high court made a critical move. The Constitutional Court, which took up the individual application made by Seyfettin Çilesiz, Honorary Member of the 7th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, on its agenda on August 6, 2026, ordered that this second application be consolidated with the main case file numbered "2026/7162" filed earlier.
"FINAL DECISION MAY BE ANNOUNCED SOON"
Lawyer Ali Erdem Gündoğan, who is conducting the litigation process, described the Constitutional Court's consolidation decision as an "unexpected and significant development." Drawing attention to the fact that the merits examination will be conducted through the first case file, Gündoğan emphasized that this move by the court indicates that the final decision could be announced soon.
Gündoğan, who argues that the failure to reflect the 8,077 lira across-the-board raise given to active civil servants before the 2023 general elections onto retirees is unconstitutional, reminded that civil servants and retired civil servants are subject to the same legislation and that raises made to date have been applied equally to both groups.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF A FAVORABLE DECISION IS REACHED?
According to lawyer Gündoğan's assessments, if the Constitutional Court issues an annulment decision in favor of retired civil servants, an across-the-board raise of approximately 25,000 lira, at current figures, will be reflected in the monthly pension of each retired civil servant. The payment of accumulated differences since July 2023 will come to the agenda. It is anticipated that this amount could reach up to 1 million lira per person. The filed lawsuit only covers the claim for receivables of retired civil servants (Retirement Fund). Therefore, even if the Constitutional Court issues an annulment decision, workers (SSK), tradesmen, and farmers (Bağ-Kur) retirees will not benefit from this across-the-board raise regulation.
1 MILLION SIGNATURES DELIVERED TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
The signature campaign initiated under the leadership of Seyfettin Çilesiz to accelerate the process also made a significant impact. It was announced that approximately 1 million wet signatures, collected with the support of retirees who formed long queues in front of courthouses, were delivered to the Constitutional Court. Gündoğan, noting that retirees have been forced to cut back on food, beverage, clothing, and health expenditures and that it has become impossible to make ends meet with current pensions, added that they await that auspicious decision from the high court that will promptly remedy the unlawfulness.