The Public Ombudsman Mehmet Akarca has taken an oath.

The group leaders of political parties spoke from their places in the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

Saadet Party Group Deputy Chairman Bülent Kaya claimed that the government sees disabled individuals as a group to receive social assistance. Kaya, who called for legislative work to ensure that disabled individuals can access every area of life, stated that their party would support this issue. Reminding that inflation rates have been announced, Kaya said that economic indicators need to be improved. Expressing that the people of Syria are in a desperate situation, Kaya stated that Syria has been embroiled in "proxy wars."

İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez expressed that disabled individuals have serious problems and that disability pensions are insufficient. Stating that no steps have been taken to increase the employment of disabled individuals, Çömez noted that physical and architectural conditions make life difficult for them. Reminding that family doctors are going on a strike, Çömez continued: "Our family doctors will go on a strike for 5 days. Primary healthcare services are being systematically undermined. The entire budget is being poured into city hospitals and private hospitals. If a family doctor transfers their patients elsewhere, their points will be deducted. Does a teacher's salary decrease if their number of students decreases or if a student enrolls in another school? Do you reduce the salaries of imams if their congregation decreases or if the congregation does not come to the mosque five times a day? Such absurd practices cannot exist. We support the strike of family doctors."

"THE QUOTA FOR DISABLED PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT MUST BE INCREASED"

MHP Group Deputy Chairman Erkan Akçay emphasized that every person is a potential disabled individual. Akçay, who explained that work is being done on the issues at the World Disability Day Awareness Program at the MHP Headquarters, stated that encouraging disabled individuals should be considered a fundamental duty. He pointed out that new regulations need to be made for disabled individuals in every area of life, stating: "Legal, physical, and other conditions must be established to ensure that disabled individuals can sustain their lives without needing help from others. Disability pensions should be increased, and the income of disabled individuals should be taken into account instead of family income in disability pension payments. The quota for disabled public employment must be increased. As the MHP, we will continue to support every step and legal regulation to be taken regarding our disabled individuals."

"WE WILL FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS"

DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Gülüstan Kılıç Koçyiğit stated that the rights of disabled individuals are among the most fundamental rights. Expressing that disabled individuals have problems, Koçyiğit said that they are not seen as equal citizens. Koçyiğit stated, "The establishment of accessibility legislation and the increase of disabled employment are among the top priorities. We will fight for the rights of disabled individuals without any conditions or exceptions."

"DISABLED RELATIVE ALLOWANCE WILL BE RAISED TO THE MINIMUM WAGE LEVEL"

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir stated that the issues faced by disabled individuals need to be discussed with care. Emphasizing that it is everyone's duty to remove the obstacles in front of disabled individuals, Emir claimed that the government sees disabled individuals as "stepchildren." Stating that the government has not been able to solve the problems of disabled individuals, Emir said, "When we come to power, the obstacles in front of disability pensions will be removed. The allowance for disabled relatives will be raised to the minimum wage level. Every year on December 3rd, we will make a minimum wage support payment to disabled individuals." Emir argued that visually impaired students and teachers have not received their books. He claimed that the government cannot foresee inflation and that predictions regarding inflation have not been accurate.

"SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE IS DEFENDING HUMAN DIGNITY"

AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu stated that structural reforms are being implemented in every area for disabled individuals. Yenişehirlioğlu explained that they will continue to make life easier for disabled individuals and that they will resolutely continue their work in this area. Emphasizing that Palestine is suffering under Israeli attacks, Yenişehirlioğlu stated: "Supporting the people of Palestine is defending human dignity; it is standing firm against the oppression of the oppressor. The Netanyahu government, which increases the dose, occupation, and scale of oppression with a motivation of genocide, must be stopped. We will not compromise on our stance alongside the oppressed and against the oppressors. We will continue our struggle under the leadership of our President, who is the hope of Palestine and oppressed geographies."

Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu mentioned that the wounds of the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, are still being healed. He reported that new houses in the earthquake zone have been delivered to their rightful owners, stating that they have overcome every difficulty encountered with the support of the nation.

PUBLIC OMBUDSMAN AKARCA TOOK AN OATH

Mehmet Akarca, who was elected as the Public Ombudsman, took an oath in the General Assembly and started his duty. Akarca was elected as the Public Ombudsman with 264 votes in the election held by the TBMM General Assembly on November 12.