Main opposition leader vows to praise Erdogan if pensions match minimum wage

The main opposition party continues to attack the ruling government over pensions and the minimum wage issue.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Ozgur Ozel made a noteworthy statement at the Pensioner House in Istanbul’s Beyoglu, Kasimpasa, where President and leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Recep Tayyip Erdogan was born and raised and has a strong support base.

Emphasizing the importance of aligning pensions with the minimum wage Ozel said: “If the ruling party set the minimum pension to the minimum wage, I swear, I promise, I will hold a press conference. I won’t criticize at all. I will thank (Mr.) Tayyip.”

In his speech, Ozel criticized the ruling AK Party’s handling of pensions during the economic crisis, noting that the state must support retirees during tough times.

He pointed out that when the AK Party first came to power, pensions were 1.5 times the minimum wage.

Ozel pledged that if the CHP comes to power, they would raise the pension to the minimum wage level within the first two months and increase the lowest pension to 1.5 times the minimum wage within 2 years.

He emphasized the importance of elections in resolving these issues, stating: “The place where this trouble and distress will end is none other than the ballot box.”

“If they set the minimum pension to the minimum wage, I swear, I promise, I will hold a press conference. I won’t criticize at all. I will thank Mr. Tayyip, for saying, ‘You heard the voice of the retiree, at least you gave a minimum wage,” he concluded.