09.05.2025 16:40
President Erdoğan, who harshly criticized CHP leader Özgür Özel, said, "The leader of the main opposition party in this country is complaining about his own country to foreign media. In trying to undermine the government, he is harming Turkey and damaging local and national brands with his call for a boycott. No one can pursue harming our producers. The balance has been lost, and there is no hope for correction."
Speaking at the 28th Ordinary General Assembly of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) held at the Haliç Congress Center, President Erdoğan harshly criticized the opposition.
"THE BALANCE HAS GONE ASTRAY, THERE IS NO HOPE FOR CORRECTION" Stating that "we are disappointed every time we hope to see change in the opposition," Erdoğan said, "Even if the party leaders change, there is not a shred of improvement in this mentality. The leader of the main opposition party in this country complains about his own country to foreign media. While trying to undermine the government, he harms Turkey, damaging local and national brands with calls for boycotts. He harms our exporters and the industrialists who provide employment. To please a handful of corrupt individuals associated with bribery and forgery, he disappoints 85 million people. This is economic manipulation, espionage, and snitching. We are not concerned with the CHP members snitching on each other, but we cannot ignore them snitching on their own country. No one can pursue harming our producers. The balance has gone astray, and there is no hope for correction. It is unacceptable to influence civil politics with toxic rhetoric. Turkey knows this toxic political language well since before 1960. It knows it well from the February 28 process, from September 12, and from the Gezi uprising. The CHP must normalize rapidly. They need to break the shackles of tutelage. They need to return to the real agenda of the country. I invite them to engage in responsible politics. Turkey needs reconciliation, not polarization. We hope that the mistake of fueling the fire will be corrected while tensions are so high in our region and the world," he said.
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements; "In the heavy atmosphere of the February 28 process, the solidarity shown by MÜSİAD has always held a special place in my heart. Your determined stance in favor of justice and rights during those dark days showed all of Turkey that you are not just a business organization, but also a movement of conscience.
The success stories you have written in the struggle for rights and freedoms, in the economy, in production, and in employment are still in our memories. Even during times when some were considered biological children and others stepchildren, you never gave up working for Turkey, producing, and being a source of hope. Your contributions to the growth of the Turkish economy, the increase in employment, and Turkey becoming a global attraction center since 1990 are undeniable. While winning, you made it a principle to conduct trade with integrity, considering not only your own profit but also your employees, your community, and your nation.
If Turkey is writing success stories in defense, diplomacy, democracy, and many areas today, the MÜSİAD family's struggle has a significant share in this. If there is a much stronger Turkey compared to before 2002, behind this strength is your hard work, courage, and stance. The support given by MÜSİAD in every attack on democracy can never be overlooked. I am grateful to all of you for the efforts you have made for the independence and future of this country.
We have overcome many hardships together, and we have shoulder to shoulder overcome many obstacles. I have felt great pride and joy in walking the same path with you for 35 years. The valuable support that MÜSİAD has given to our nation and our democracy will continue to be the strongest as it has in the past. Hopefully, tomorrow we will continue to be one and together with the same faith and determination.
"RISKS AND THREATS ARE INCREASING" Our world is going through critical processes where changes are occurring as much as it is painful. We left the coronavirus behind 3 years ago, but its effects are still ongoing. The resistance in inflation has not yet been broken. It seems that the escalating tensions through customs tariffs will continue. Risks and threats are increasingly rising across a wide spectrum. The global economy is trying to navigate through stormy seas. It will take a little more time for things to settle down. As a government, we have the plan, project, and will to safely guide the ship to the harbor in stormy waters. Despite the crises that erupt every day, we are proceeding calmly and patiently. We are implementing our decisions by calculating the pros and cons. We have strengthened our economy with the reform program. One of the main goals of the program is to relieve citizens from the burden of high living costs.
"WE HAVE REACHED THE LOWEST INFLATION IN 40 MONTHS" With the reform program we implemented 2 years ago, we strengthened the foundations of our economy. We ensured macro-financial stability. We established a solid foundation for permanent and sustainable growth. We have made significant progress in the last 2 years. Annual inflation has been continuously decreasing for 11 months. We have reached the lowest level in the last 40 months. Hopefully, it will continue.
FIRM MESSAGE AGAINST UNREGISTERED ECONOMY: NO STEP BACK We do not compromise on fiscal discipline either. While quickly healing the wounds of the earthquake, we are also continuing our savings measures this year. Unregistered economy is primarily unfair competition. The state's duty is to protect those who keep their accounts correctly and run their businesses according to the rules. Therefore, we cannot take a step back from the fight against unregistered economy.
"CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE IS POSITIVE, UNEMPLOYMENT AT HISTORIC LEVELS" The picture is also positive in external balance. We are providing a current surplus when excluding gold. The decline in oil prices works in our favor. We are also at historic levels in employment. Our unemployment rate has dropped to 7.9%. This indicates the lowest level in the last 20 years. Depending on developments, there may be temporary slowdowns in domestic and external demand. These are quite natural. We continue on our path with an inclusive growth target.
We have successfully passed the tests against the fluctuations that have emerged in the last month and a half. The operations of certain circles have backfired. Our reserves have started to increase again. We are not leaving any segment behind. In the loans used by our farmers, we cover 7 liras of every 10 financing costs.
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HIT30 PROGRAM: 30 BILLION DOLLARS SUPPORT BY 2030 We have launched the HIT30 program for a breakthrough in high technology. We will provide 30 billion dollars in support by 2030. Export is not just foreign currency income; it is production, employment, and prosperity. Both those who produce software and those who provide services in tourism feel the support of the state behind them. In the first 4 months of the year, we utilized 15.7 billion dollars in support. We will stand by anyone who wants to produce and invest.
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