Main opposition leader Ozel calls for unity in implementing 15-point plan for retirees

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Ozgur Ozel urged leaders from both the government and opposition to tackle the challenges confronting retirees, unveiling a comprehensive 15-point strategy aimed at resolving their issues.

Speaking at the Great Retirees Rally organized by the CHP, the main opposition party, at Ankara’s Tandogan Square, where tens of thousands of retirees from across Türkiye had gathered to highlight the financial hardships they face, Ozel stated, “We are committed to implementing this 15-point plan collaboratively to bring smiles to the faces of 16 million people.”

Ozel called on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli, and other leaders to solve retirees’ issues and listed their 15-point plan as follows:

• We will legally ensure that the minimum retirement pension is never less than the minimum wage.
• We will increase the updating factor for premiums, the pension rate, and the lower limit of pensions fairly.
• We will abolish the Distinction Law, eliminating distinctions between retirees before 2000, between 2000 and 2008, and after 2008.
• We will eliminate drug copayments, price differences, and examination fees that burden retirees significantly.
• Retirees should be granted the right to unionize, and closure cases against retiree unions for intimidation purposes should be immediately withdrawn.
• Retirees’ holiday bonuses should be raised to the level of the minimum wage.
• Holiday bonuses for retirees from private institutions and banks should be equalized.
• Drug copayments should be reduced, and promotional payments should be made to them.
• A retiree card should be issued, providing a 25% to 40% discount on electricity, natural gas, and water bills.
• The problems of those waiting for promotion in retirement should be resolved.
• The transportation problem for retirees over 65 should be solved by the state without burdening them, considering also the drivers’ needs.
• The practice of cutting SGK Support Premiums from retirees who still work should be ended.
• Retirees’ debts on loans and credit cards should be forgiven once, divided over 5 years, relieving retirees from this burden.
• Tax justice must be ensured, taxing everyone according to their income, and indirect taxes should be gradually eliminated.

In his concluding remarks, Ozel announced the CHP’s first election promise: minimum retirement pension will be raised to the minimum wage within the first 100 days, with a subsequent increase to one and a half times the minimum wage within two years.