25.03.2026 18:20
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, made a striking proposal regarding the minimum wage. Özel stated, "Minimum wage increases should occur every three months, and additional adjustments should be made to civil servant and pensioner salaries."
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel chaired the Executive Board Meeting held at his party's Presidential Candidate Office.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S MINIMUM WAGE STATEMENT
Later, Özel held a press conference and argued that the negative effects of developments in the Middle East on the Turkish economy have reached alarming levels. Özel stated that his party's Economic Coordination Council has met with representatives from all segments of society and sectors, collecting findings, suggestions, and thoughts directly.
"VAT RATE ON FUEL SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 1%"
Sharing the details of the precautionary package prepared by the Council, Özgür Özel said, "We propose reducing the VAT rate on fuel from 20% to 1%. We also suggest the permanent removal of the VAT included in the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on gasoline and diesel, and that this practice of taxing tax should be ended as soon as possible."
"MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES SHOULD OCCUR EVERY 3 MONTHS"
CHP Chairman Özel emphasized that serious measures need to be taken in agricultural production.
Özel, who called for providing farmers with access to financing regardless of credit limits and offering interest-free fertilizer and fuel loans, stated: "Especially as the planting season approaches in Turkey, the disruptions in fertilizer production, difficulties in the supply chain, and the increase in prices have reached a very dangerous point. We must recognize that a crisis is imminent and urgent measures need to be taken. The interest on farmers' loan debts should be canceled, and the principal amounts must be restructured. Foreclosure proceedings against farmers should be immediately halted. Minimum wage increases should occur every 3 months, and additional regulations should be made for civil servant and pensioner salaries."
Özel also explained that cash support should be provided, which changes progressively according to household income and is integrated into the social assistance system, that a calculation of the inflation basket for low-income individuals should be made, and that credit packages guaranteed by the Credit Guarantee Fund should be urgently activated for firms negatively affected by the process. He stated that support for electricity and natural gas should be provided to small tradespeople, and fuel support should be given to tradespeople in the transportation sector.
"INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRATION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR ENERGY SECURITY"
Özel also touched on the medium and long-term measures prepared by his party, stating, "In energy, in the medium and long term; necessary infrastructure integration should be established to ensure energy security, alternative supply lines should be strengthened to secure supply, and domestic renewable energy capacity should be increased."
Özel called for the establishment of subsidy mechanisms in agriculture, prioritizing production increase and planning, ensuring income security for farmers, support programs aimed at reducing energy costs for SMEs and the real sector, the implementation of green-purple-digital transformation programs in production, the establishment of crisis coordination mechanisms in transportation and energy with neighboring countries, and effective support for the Turkish defense industry.