In Istanbul, public transport fares have been increased by forty percent. Protests against this price increase have been going on for days, and on Saturday the "Reverse the Price Increase!" alliance gathered at the Mecidiyeköy metro bus station to make a loud appeal to the municipality. HDP deputies Musa Piroğlu and Züleyha Gülüm also participated in the protest.

Speaking on behalf of the alliance, Zeynep Çelik said that fares have almost doubled, effectively removing freedom of movement for a large part of Istanbul's population. The activist pointed out that impoverishment in Turkey has increased sharply in the last two months and that minimum wages have long been insufficient to cover basic needs in the face of price increases for food, water, gas, electricity and fuel.

"People are struggling to survive," Çelik said. An unprecedented economic collapse is taking place in Turkey, he said, which the government is trying in vain to stop with its interest rate policy and price hikes. "Responsible for the economic crisis is the AKP government, which is exploiting public resources, steering the country from one war to another, selling off public infrastructure, destroying agriculture, abusing religion and ruining the education system. Big capital and the imperialist power centers are responsible. This crisis can only be overcome by a change in economic policy that does not serve the interests of capital, but those of the poor."

Passenger transportation, and especially public transportation, is not a means of private consumption, but rather a right of the people, Çelik declared, calling for free transportation.