24.12.2025 21:25
Speaking at a rally organized by his party in the Kağıthane district of Istanbul, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel called on citizens to take to the streets. Reacting to the announcement of the minimum wage set at 28,075 TL for the year 2026, Özel said, "I am addressing all workers from here. This government does not listen while you sit at home; you cannot get rid of them by staying at home. I invite all of you to the squares to resist."
The address of the CHP's rallies organized under the slogan "Defending the Will of the Nation" this week was the Kağıthane district of Istanbul.
ÖZEL'S CALL TO CITIZENS ON THE STREET
Speaking to the crowd gathered at the Central Square, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel reacted to the announcement of the minimum wage set at 28,075 TL for the year 2026. Addressing the citizens, Özel said, "This government does not listen while you sit at home; you cannot escape from them by staying at home. I invite all of you to the squares, to resist!"
"THEY CONDEMNED MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS TO HUNGER AND POVERTY"
Özel's relevant statements were as follows: "Türk-İş declares the hunger and poverty line. The hunger line in Turkey is 30,000 lira, and the poverty line is 98,000 lira. As the CHP, we advocated that the lowest pension should be equivalent to the minimum wage, that the minimum wage should be at least 39,000 lira, and that support should be provided to small tradespeople. We presented this constructive proposal to the Parliament. They did not hear us, they did not listen. They set employer support at 1,200 lira. Unfortunately, they announced the minimum wage as 28,000 lira and condemned minimum wage earners to misery, hunger, and poverty. From here, I call out to all unions, to all workers, unionized or not, and to all retirees. This government does not listen while you sit at home; you cannot obtain rights by staying at home, you cannot escape from them by staying at home. I invite all of you to struggle, to the squares, to resist."