Co-Chair of the Confederation of Public Labourer’s Unions (KESK) Mehmet Bozgeyik said that the economic crisis, which deepened in 2022 because of the government's policies in favour of capital and war, will increase in 2023.
KESK Co-Chair Bozgeyik maintained that the war policies promoted by the government led to unemployment, inability to make a living and poverty. He said: “The peoples of Turkey know that the main reason for the economic crisis, unemployment and poverty stemmed from the security policies introduced by the government.”
KESK Co-Chair Bozgeyik spoke to ANF about the economic crisis in Turkey. Bozgeyik pointed out that the government introduced policies in favour of the capital-owning class. He said: “We are facing severe poverty due to the lack of public investments for employment, education, health, workers, public workers, retirees, women and youth. Since the next elections will be held in 2023, the ruling AKP will transfer more resources to public expenditure to regain its voters and to maintain its power. In that respect, economic problems of citizens will continue to increase in 2023.”
POVERTY WILL INCREASE
Bozgeyik noted that high inflation and increases in food, electricity, natural gas prices and rents could not be stopped by an increase in the minimum wage, a 30 percent raise for public workers, and an increase in pensions. He said: “As of January, the hunger limit is more than 10 thousand Turkish Lira (TL), the poverty line is 27-28 thousand TL. Retirement salary remains below the hunger line and the minimum wage. When we consider that the average salary of a public worker remains at the hunger limit, we believe that the problem of severe poverty and inability to make a living will increase further this year.”
SECURITY POLICIES ARE MAIN REASON
The KESK Co-Chair drew attention to the government's strategy to manipulate citizens, through pro-media outlets and propaganda. Bozgeyik continued: “Authoritarian government policies are the main reason for high inflation, severe poverty and an inability to make a living. We have always stated that pro-war policies were the main reason. Russia's war on Ukraine has aggravated problems. People did not find it convincing when we previously argued that the war policies that had been in force for a long time in the Middle East sparked and escalated the economic crisis. Now, the peoples of Turkey know that the main reason for this economic crisis, unemployment, severe poverty and high inflation is the war and security policies promoted by the government.”
