04.10.2025 12:02
The leader of the DEVA Party, Ali Babacan, stated in a live broadcast on Haberler.com that the minimum wage should be at least 33,000 lira for the year 2026. While calculating on his phone during the live broadcast, Babacan said, "When we add the rights carried over from the past, this year's inflation, and the share of prosperity, at least a 50% increase is necessary. In other words, the current wage of 22,000 lira needs to rise to the level of 33,000 lira."
In an interview at the Haberler.com studio, DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan, who answered questions from News Director Olgun Kızıltepe and presenter Melis Yaşar, made striking statements regarding the minimum wage increase for the year 2026.
"A GREAT INJUSTICE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED FOR YEARS"
Evaluating the inflation for September, Babacan reminded that the minimum wage and pensions are increased based on TÜİK data, stating, "While the real inflation is very high, our citizens' salaries are increased according to the low TÜİK inflation. A great injustice has been experienced for years," he said.
"SUCH A THING HAS NEVER BEEN DONE IN TURKEY BEFORE"
Criticizing the decision made last year to increase wages only by the "expected inflation" in a harsh tone, Babacan said, "The inflation for 2024 is around 45 percent. So, what do you expect for 2025's inflation? 30 percent. At the end of last year, they said that we would increase the minimum wage not by 45 percent but by 30 percent. Such a thing has never been done in Turkey before. When people's salaries have eroded by 45 percent, you must compensate for that 45 percent. No, they said we will give 30 percent. This is theft. This is stealing from the minimum wage." he stated.
HE CALCULATED LIVE ON AIR
Babacan, who took out his phone to calculate live on air and argued that the minimum wage for 2026 should be at least 33 thousand lira, stated, "There is a right from last year, a 15 percent right. First, we need to calculate that. When we add this year's inflation to it, it amounts to 45 percent. And they say the economy has grown, it will grow... When we add the 5 percent contribution, it totals to 50 percent. So, the minimum wage should roughly be at least 33 thousand lira instead of 22 thousand lira. But even this is not enough. Because this calculation is made by accepting TÜİK's inflation figures as correct. However, TÜİK is not telling the truth. Institutional mechanisms need to be established to calculate the real inflation one day," he said.
HE CALLED FOR A CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM
Babacan emphasized that increasing the minimum wage based on low inflation data means taking away the rights of millions of workers and stressed that the current system must be changed.