Turkish Opposition Calls For Improving Economy

Turkey's opposition parties on Monday called on the government to take steps for improving the country's economy.

On the first day of 2020 budget debate, Ismail Tatlioglu, a senior lawmaker of Good (IYI) Party, claimed the proposed 2020 budget would "shrink the economy, increase unemployment and make the public sector unbalanced."

"Are we going to applaud it?" he questioned.

Tatlioglu called on the government to take the "responsibility of country's economic situation".

Under the 2020 budget, Turkey has earmarked 88.5 billion Turkish liras ($15 billion) for public investment in the transportation, industry, health, and education sectors.

Budget expenditures were projected at 1.095 trillion liras ($0.19 trillion). Also, non-interest expenses will round up at 956.5 billion liras ($163.14 billion).

Budget revenues were projected at 956.6 billion liras ($162 billion) and tax revenues at 784.6 billion liras ($133 billion). The budget deficit was predicted at 138.9 billion liras (nearly $23 billion) for next year.

Erkan Akcay, deputy chair of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said that the country's economy should be based on "national savings and national sources."

"The employment issue should be immediately resolved, the agriculture and husbandry should be strengthened," Akcay said.

The 12-day budget marathon will continue until Dec. 20.

The budget for 2020 will be the 18th budget of AK Party's government and the second under the presidential system of governance.

Levent Bulbul, MHP's another deputy chair, said that the repatriation of Syrians to the safe zone in northern Syria is "the best solution."

Turkish government has been defending the establishment of a terror-free safe zone since 2015 on all international platforms, including the UN.

Since 2016, Turkey launched three major cross-border military operations in northern Syria against YPG/PKK and Daesh/ISIS terror groups to secure its borders, protect local Syrians and relocate millions of Syrian refugees back to their homeland. -