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Turkish pensioners demand new government over economic hardship
🇹🇷 Turkey /Economy & Trade

Turkish pensioners demand new government over economic hardship

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Pensioners in Kadirli, Turkey, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the announced inflation rates and the government's proposed minimum pension increase.
  • They argue that the current pension amount is insufficient to cover basic living costs, citing high prices for essential goods like tomatoes and wheat.
  • Retirees are calling for a new government, with some suggesting that politicians' salaries should be redistributed to help the poor.

Pensioners in Kadirli, Osmaniye province, are voicing deep frustration over Turkey's economic situation, particularly the latest inflation figures and the government's plan to raise the lowest pension to 23,000 Turkish lira. Retirees feel the proposed increase is inadequate to meet the soaring cost of living.

How will we live under these conditions? A bad tomato costs 5 lira in the field, but I buy it for 50 lira.

— PensionerA retiree in Kadirli describes the high cost of living and insufficient pension.

"How will we live under these conditions?" one pensioner questioned, pointing to the high price of basic necessities. "A bad tomato costs 5 lira in the field, but I buy it for 50 lira." They lamented that inflation has devastated their finances, with even the government-set floor price for wheat being undercut by buyers. The sentiment is that they have no strength left to move forward, and they question the fairness of the situation for ordinary citizens.

This retiree must seek a new government.

— PensionerA retiree expresses the need for political change due to economic hardship.

Some retirees suggested drastic measures, proposing that politicians' salaries be cut for a month and distributed to the poor. They believe that if politicians experienced the hardship of the poor, they would not remain in their positions. The call is for a fundamental change, with one person stating, "This retiree must seek a new government."

What changed? What can you do with 10 lira?

— PensionerA retiree questions the impact of the proposed pension increase.

Another pensioner expressed a desire for the government to "look after us" rather than offering more money. They claimed to be borrowing money to survive and questioned the impact of the proposed 23,500 lira pension, stating, "What changed? What can you do with 10 lira?" The consensus among those interviewed is that the current pension is insufficient, with some suggesting that 30,000 lira would be a more appropriate amount for a normal life. They described going to the market with empty hands, unable to afford even basic groceries, and settling for second-hand goods if they can find them.

You go to the market, you see the worst vegetable is 50 lira, 100 lira. There is nothing, the man goes with three bags, he can't buy anything.

— PensionerA retiree describes the unaffordability of groceries in the market.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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