Tension at the General Assembly: "The minimum wage should not be lower than the lowest civil servant salary," said someone, and chaos ensued.

In the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the group proposals of the Saadet Party regarding "minimum wage earners and retirees," the İYİ Party regarding "Lake Eber," the DEM Party regarding "Kurds living in Turkey," and the CHP regarding "Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant" were discussed separately.

"MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN THE LOWEST CIVIL SERVANT SALARY"

Speaking on behalf of his party's group proposal, Saadet Party Konya Deputy Hasan Ekici stated that the economic crisis has affected minimum wage earners and retirees the most. Ekici expressed that representatives of the ruling party have made statements that they will not let minimum wage earners and retirees be crushed by inflation, saying, "Since society will not be crushed by inflation, then salary increases should be made according to real inflation, not the imaginary inflation estimates of the next year. Both reason and conscience say this. The minimum wage should not be less than the lowest civil servant salary, and the burden on employers should be shared by the state through incentives." he said.

AK PARTY'S ŞAHİN USTA: WE ARE STRIVING FOR MAXIMUM IMPROVEMENT

AK Party Group Deputy Chair Leyla Şahin Usta stated that they are aware of the difficulties faced by minimum wage earners and retirees, saying, "The Minimum Wage Determination Commission is holding discussions with its stakeholders, and this work will be completed with a common mind, and the results will be announced. We are making great efforts to provide the maximum improvement for retirees." she said.

In the votes held after the discussions, the group proposals of the CHP, DEM Party, İYİ Party, and Saadet Party regarding the agenda were not accepted.

"THE DAILY WAGE OF A MINIMUM WAGE EARNER EQUIVALENTS TO 800 GRAMS OF GROUND MEAT"

On the other hand, a debate on 'minimum wage' and 'retirement salary' took place among the deputies in the general assembly. Speaking on behalf of the İYİ Party Group, Edirne Deputy Mehmet Akalın said, "Can you believe that the daily wage of a working minimum wage earner only corresponds to 800 grams of ground meat? Now, just looking at these figures, that is, housing, shelter, clothing, health, education, all of these will be covered, and all of this will be done by people with 17 thousand 2 lira. Believe me, calling this a 'miracle' doesn't even do it justice; being able to achieve this means doing something greater than a miracle. The current government came to power in 2002. Think about it, in 2003, a minimum wage earner could buy 25 Republic gold coins with their annual income, but by 2024, a minimum wage earner can only buy 9.5 Republic gold coins with their annual salary." he stated.

"RETIREES WILL CHASE YOU AWAY WITH SLIPPERS"

Speaking on behalf of the CHP Group, Malatya Deputy Veli Ağbaba said, "Dear friends, let me quote a saying of Bilge Kağan: 'Let poverty be so diminished in Turkish lands that being poor is considered a crime.' Bilge Kağan said 1300 years ago, 'Poverty does not suit Turks.' 1300 years later, AK Party members say, 'Being poor is being close to God.' If this poverty is being close to God, then you should also be close to God; you should also be close, you should also be close." In his statement, Ağbaba recalled that a 79-year-old retiree lost his life after falling from construction, saying, "Recently in Malatya, I asked a retiree, 'Where did you get your jacket?' and his eyes filled with tears. He said, 'I am wearing the jacket of my deceased neighbor, my deceased neighbor.' This is the situation Turkey is experiencing. Are only retirees affected? Retirees receive a salary of 12 thousand 500 lira, and you probably say, 'We are making it 13 thousand 500 or so.' Do you know what happens if you make it 13 thousand 500? If retirees see you on the street, they will indeed chase you away with slippers, chase you away with slippers. Unfortunately, who is responsible for Turkey's deep poverty? It is the work of the AK Party members." he said.

"LET IT BE, LET IT BE A POLEMIC"

Speaking at the podium on behalf of the AK Party Group, Adıyaman Deputy Hüseyin Özhan said, "There are many things to respond to Mr. Veli Ağbaba, but let's not get off topic, let it not be a polemic," while CHP Ankara Deputy Umut Akdoğan replied, "Let it be, let it be a polemic." CHP Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal intervened, saying, "Let's support this Adıyaman tobacco." In the continuation of his speech, Hüseyin Özhan recalled the destruction caused by the February 6 earthquakes in Adıyaman, saying, "Let me change the agenda a bit," to which CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır replied, "No, I think don't change it, it's the retirees' agenda." DEM Party Mardin Deputy Beritan Güneş Altın said, "Retirees will not forgive this agenda change." Veli Ağbaba said, "For God's sake, friends, how can Hüseyin Bey talk about retirees, what will he say? He is right, he is right. How will Hüseyin Bey talk about retirees? Hüseyin Bey is also right." he said.