The government's new tax package has infuriated CHP leader Özel.

Speaking at the Yırca Olive Festival held in Soma, Manisa, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel harshly criticized the AK Party's proposed legislation for the defense industry.

Özel stated, "Now the danger is great, they are trying to seize your money, the money you have earned, because Israel is coming." He continued, "That’s why I call out to all of Turkey from here. This country has a strong army. When needed, each of us is a soldier of that army. This country has come through tough days together. But the government that mismanages the country, that has devastated the economy due to its poor management, that cannot solve unemployment, that has raised inflation from single digits to 80%, and today cannot bring down the inflation rate of 50% any lower, this government that crushes us all under the cost of living now says, 'A war will break out, do not raise your voice.' Do not believe them. If a war breaks out, we will protect this country," he said.

Here are the highlights from Özel's statements;

"I want to explain something that this government has done, something that it has attempted, to all of Turkey from Yırca, to reveal their true intentions. Because this is as important an issue as the olive struggle, the struggle for nature. The issue is this: the chairman of the ruling party came to the Parliament on October 1. In his opening speech, he made a statement. He said, 'Israel's next target is Turkey.' This is not a statement made lightly. It is not something to be left behind. I went out. I said at the door, let’s immediately call the Parliament to a closed session, let him explain this to us. Why closed? When it’s open, he says, 'Am I going to reveal state secrets live on air? I have some information, I cannot say,' he says. He is playing this game. He said, 'We are the next target.' We called for a closed session. The minutes of the closed session cannot be disclosed for 10 years. But we said, if there is indeed information, documents, and evidence regarding a threat that Israel will attack Turkey, explain it. We are with you. Otherwise, it is forbidden for you to explain what you have explained. But I will expose that you did not explain, I will report you to the public. Two ministers came, he did not come. He should have come, but he did not.

"TWO MINISTERS WASTED TIME"

Two ministers, one for 40 minutes and the other for 36 minutes, wasted time, so to speak. What could they do? They had nothing to say. One statement was made, and they were sent to fill in the details. After all, no one will hear it for 10 years. There is no important information that you do not know, that is not discussed on television. In fact, I cannot explain what they said here now, but they are saying that among the countries they consider to be under threat from Israel, Turkey is not included. This was said by the minister that day, it was secret. Yesterday, the group leader of the ruling party also said it. But there is a trick. What is it? The president tells all of us, 'Friends, you are hungry, you are unemployed, you are insecure, I know, but the danger is great, you must support me. Israel may attack us, a third world war may break out...' Since that day, on television, they are asking how many tanks we have? How many tanks does Israel have? How many frigates do we have, how many does it have? It has F35s. How many F16s do we have? In other words, let’s look at the distraction. Let’s forget our own problems. If Turkey has a security problem, I was in Çanakkale yesterday, when there is a security problem, the ancestors of the 83 million living in Turkey today, are lying side by side without shrouds in Çanakkale. When such a danger arises, in protecting the homeland and the nation, no one will fall behind anyone else. But the issue is that while Israel is attacking around, saying our next target is us, there is an understanding that wants to bring the agenda to security concerns and prevent the discussion of poverty.

HE GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF HITLER

An understanding that says unemployment should not be discussed, that the children of the village are unemployed, and that jobs should be found for them. Look, now what is being attempted in this country, there is no mistake in the analogy, 80 years ago Hitler was doing this to the Germans. He said, 'German children need grease for German tanks, not butter. Do not say we are poor.' They were showing weak children, weak. Like a kitten. Against those photos, Hitler said, 'Those children need grease for our tanks, not butter. If there are no tanks, those children cannot survive.' He led his country and the world to disaster. That’s why we must keep and manage this country in peace, in unity, and in prosperity.

"THEY WILL CUT MONEY FROM ALL OF US"

Look now, the evidence of why Tayyip Erdoğan did this has emerged. Last week, if we hadn’t said come to a closed session, those war movies would continue to play on television. They could not provide any information in the closed session. Do not be afraid, there is no war. Get out of that agenda, return to the real agenda of this country, unemployment, poverty, insecurity, if we hadn’t said, it would have been easier for them. Now yesterday they submitted a bill. The Defense Industry Support Fund, they will cut money from all of us for this fund. Abdullah Güler, the chairman of the AKP group that submitted this bill, says, 'This law was introduced to strengthen our national security against the threat of Israel attacking Turkey.' What are we going to do? We are already paying taxes, my chief, depending on the type of tax declarations we submit, we will all pay additional taxes to the Defense Industry Support Fund between 308 lira and 604 lira. Declarations are submitted to the Social Security Institution, if someone is working alongside, they submit it. For each declaration, we will pay 228 lira, we will pay taxes with each submission. 624 lira will be paid on customs declarations. Those with credit cards above a certain limit will pay 750 lira in taxes. If you buy real estate, if you buy a house in this village, you will pay an additional tax of 750 lira. Those buying a new car will pay 3,000 lira. Those buying a second-hand car will pay 1,500 lira. For every type of tax declaration, customs declaration, and declaration submitted to the SGK, there will be an additional stamp tax equal to the amount of stamp tax. They will also collect additional taxes from those who buy wristwatches. The same proposal includes a regulation for motor vehicle taxes. There was no MTV for motorcycles under 100 cubic centimeters, and for motorcycles with an engine power of 6 kw, you know. For the smallest ones. Motor vehicle tax has been introduced for these. In addition, 20% of these taxes will also be transferred to the defense industry. So what is it? Last week they threw out the statement 'Israel will attack.' They have made such a statement to collect 70 billion in taxes from us, from those buying houses, cars, paying taxes, employing insured workers, and from every type of declaration.

"PEOPLE CANNOT LIVE ON 17 THOUSAND LIRA"

So is there no money in the defense industry? There is, but it has run out. They want 70 billion from us, but there was only 3 billion lira here recently. They transferred that 3 billion lira to the Wealth Fund free of charge in February 2017. They said there is no need for money in the defense industry, they sent it to the fund they manage. Now they want money from us with new taxes. We say this openly. There is a problem with the livelihood of retirees in this country. They are trying to survive on 12,500 lira. This money is a poverty wage. They did not raise the minimum wage. People cannot live on 17 thousand lira. Recently, we held an agricultural rally. The grapes, cotton, wheat, barley, olives, melons of Manisa... Those who produce these do not make money. Sure, here is the translated text while preserving the existing HTML structure and translating the `title` and `alt` attributes within the `img` tags as well:



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The state is not providing the support it should. For years, we started with President Vehbi in Ballıca. There should be a premium for olives. They have been giving 100 kuruş for olive oil and 20 kuruş for a kilogram of olives for years to increase the premium of olive oil. This needs to be increased tenfold. That is, 10 lira per liter for olive oil and 2 lira per kilogram for olives. Instead of providing these, they are now trying to seize your money, the money you earn, saying there is a great danger, that Israel will come. Therefore, I am calling out to all of Turkey from here. This country has a strong army. When needed, each of us is a soldier of that army. This country has come through tough times together. But the government that mismanages the country, that has devastated the economy due to its poor management, that cannot solve unemployment, that has raised inflation from single digits to 80%, and that has taken over the so-called wreckage from the late Ecevit, who inherited inflation in the 30s and brought it down with his policies, while raising it to 85% with its own wrong policies, and that cannot lower the current inflation of 50%, which crushes us all under the cost of living, is now saying, 'A war will break out, do not raise your voice.' Do not believe them.

"IF WAR BREAKS OUT, WE WILL PROTECT THIS COUNTRY"

If war breaks out, we will protect this country. There will be no war. Fight against poverty, unemployment, and the high cost of living. Tayyip Erdoğan, who wants the real problems of the country not to be discussed with the fear of war breaking out, is lying to the people of this country, deceiving them. He is trying to cover up poverty by distorting, exaggerating, and stating non-existent information that he claims to have obtained through his authority and position. We will fight for this. We will be together for this, and sooner or later, we will condemn poverty, unemployment, favoritism, and this understanding that loves the rich and oppresses the poor. We believe in you. We believe in the spirit of Yırca, our villagers, our farmers, and our workers. We believe in the Turkish people, in everyone living in Turkey. We are right. We will succeed, we will win. I greet you all with respect. Thank you, be well.