27.06.2026 11:56
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated, "When the July inflation data is released, civil servant and retiree salaries are shaped accordingly. We have never allowed them to be crushed by inflation; that is our principle." Regarding the minimum retirement pension, Yılmaz said, "This needs to be done through legislation. Our Parliament will carry out the necessary work on this matter."
Cevdet Yılmaz, speaking at a meeting organized by the Turkish Press Federation with journalists, delivered important messages about current issues.
Regarding whether civil servants and retirees will receive a welfare share in July, Yılmaz said, "There is an automatic system for raises for retirees and civil servants; increases are shaped accordingly. Whatever the inflation rate is, it is reflected. A legal regulation is also being made regarding the minimum retirement pension. This is a social state policy. When July inflation figures come out, civil servant and retiree salaries will be shaped. We have never let them be crushed by inflation. Whatever the inflation is, we definitely reflect it. There is one area where this is not automatically reflected (minimum retirement pension). If you look at the base salary, not the premium-based one, it is much lower. Parliament will do what is necessary on this matter."
"THE FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION WILL GAIN STRENGTH" Referring to this period, Yılmaz stated that with the effects of the Iran-US war fading, the fight against inflation will gain strength. Continuing his remarks, Yılmaz said, "The US-Israel-Iran war had an external impact on our program, causing inflation to rise and growth to slow. Energy and financing costs increased worldwide. Central banks kept interest rates high. The main thing is the plan and program; external effects may cause temporary differences, but the direction is what matters. That's how we see it; we will continue the fight against inflation decisively. The sliding scale mechanism was applied to limit the impact. There is an agreement between the US and Iran. If Israel does not sabotage it, a return to lasting peace would be beneficial. There is a relative improvement in oil prices. The war also affected our Central Bank's policies. Housing and food are very important in the inflation basket. Progress in these two areas means welfare. We did not expect this picture in the summer months; inflation was forecast to fall below 30 percent. The war ended before the tourism season began. Inflation in the first six months was higher than expected in the program. The fight against inflation will gain strength. Housing and food rank first in the inflation basket. Progress in these areas means social welfare. In our country, 1 million 800 thousand people live alone. Taking this into account, we will continue our social housing initiative."
MESSAGE OF A TERROR-FREE TURKEY On legal regulations regarding 'A Terror-Free Turkey,' Yılmaz said, "We are at a critical new stage in the process of a terror-free Turkey. The final decision-making authority is the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Our hope is that the legal regulation will be made with the participation of all parties in the commission. With a terror-free Turkey, we will realize the goal of a terror-free region. There is an effort to complete the legal framework within this period. The law will come to Parliament, take its final shape in the commission, and then come to the general assembly. In the equation of whether disarmament or the law comes first, there will be legal engineering. (Öcalan's position) The current legal work focuses on dissolution; it will proceed within the main framework. There is an effort to complete it within this period. These are matters dependent on the will of Parliament. What will be faced legally will be determined, and its activation will be tied to certain conditions."
NEW CONSTITUTION STUDIES Also touching on new constitution studies, Yılmaz said, "Turkey has now turned from a tutelary system to democracy; it needs a constitution suitable for this. A civil, new, democratic constitution is the desire of all of us. However, this cannot be done with a single party; we say 'let's do it together.' We are preparing our work not as rigid articles but as policy approaches. We have held more than 20 meetings and are making our preparations. There is little left to complete the studies. We must look at the new constitution with a future-oriented focus. The constitution is also important as a response to the atmosphere of the new world order. We must see the positive trajectory and protect our country's interests. Once completed, it will be presented to the president and consulted with other parties."
"TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH IS POSITIVE" Responding to a question about US President Trump's stance toward Turkey, Yılmaz said, "We see that the Trump administration has an extremely positive approach toward Turkey. We observe that the positive relationship at the leaders' level also reflects on relations between the countries."