Felicity (Saadet) Party Deputy Chairman Fatih Aydın evaluated the announced inflation rates and the rise rates for civil servants and retirees.
Aydın criticized that the government is trying to present the inflation difference as a raise and trying to transfer it to the society with fancy sentences.
Stating that they completed 2021 with high hikes in goods and services, especially electricity, fuel and natural gas, Aydın said, “The record-breaking People's Alliance and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Government in exchange rates, interest rates, commodity prices, they also broke the inflation record of the last 20 years on both monthly, semi-annual and annual basis. December 2021 inflation was 13,58 percent, the second six-month inflation rate of 2021 was 25,47 percent, and annual inflation was 36,08 percent. In short, when the calculation is made on the data of Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), not on the market realities; 100 Turkish Liras (TL) on November 31 2021 is 86,42 TL on December 31, 100 TL on June 30 2021 is 74,53 TL on December 31, 100 TL on January 1 2021 is on December 31 it fell to 63,92 TL.”
THEY SAY THE INFLATION DIFFERENCE AS A RISE
Evaluating the rise statements made for civil servants and retirees, Aydın emphasized that the government is trying to present the inflation gap as a 'raise'.
“These data are reflected and distorted as price increases with fancy sentences and high tone of voice. What the Mr. President says, 'we have increased the salaries of civil servants by 30,5 percent by adding an additional increase of 2,5 percent'. It shows the 22,5 percent inflation gap as a rise. These words do not reflect the truth, they veil the truth. It is necessary to lift the curtain and shout the truth together!” Aydın added.
THEY ARE TRYING TO VEIL THE LOSS OF INCOME
Explaining the amount announced in detail, Aydın said that the current rise is 7,5 percent.
“The 30,5 percent, which was announced as the increase rate by President Erdogan, consists of three elements. 22,5 percent; is the second six-month inflation difference of 2021. 5 percent; is the collective agreement increase rate for the first six months of 2022. 2,5 percent; is the additional rate of increase due to poor management of the economy. In other words, it is the prepaid rate of the first six-month inflation difference of 2022. In short, the salaries of civil servants are increased by only 7,5 percent for the first six months of 2022. This increase is not at a level to compensate for the income loss experienced in the last six months of 2021. In fact, civil servants have suffered a loss of income and the salary figures have been increased to mask this lose,” Aydın added.
INCOME LOSSES SHOULD BE COMPENSATED
Aydın also stated that the annual income losses of civil servants, which amounted to 37 percent in 2021, were not compensated either.
"No measures have been taken to prevent loss of income in 2022. It is already seen that the inflation rates in January and February will be in double digits. Therefore, the 2,5 percent, which is expressed as an additional increase, should definitely be regulated as the welfare share. Otherwise, 2,5 percent will be increased in July, it means nothing but paying that much of the inflation difference as of January,” Aydın added.
Stating that they support Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions’ (Memur-Sen) fair demands, "In this sense, we see and support Memur-Sen's demands for additional raise and welfare share as correct and necessary. Loss of income and loss of purchasing power must be put to an end; civil servants should be supported in the face of inflation with additional raises and welfare shares,” Aydın said.
LEGAL OBLIGATION GIVEN TO PENSIONERS, NOT A RISE
Pointing out that the increase in retirees is not a raise, but that these figures are due to legal obligation, “The data on pensions contains even greater deception. It is said that the minimum pension has been increased from 1,500 TL to 2,500 TL. However, considering the annual 36 percent inflation, this figure should have been corrected as 2,040 TL anyway. Considering the 2022 inflation forecasts, it is clear that this figure will reach 2,500 before the first six months of the year. In this sense essentially there is no exclusive increase and no special improvement. There has been no increase in pensions in general, and the salaries have been updated based on the inflation data of the last six months. Salaries of civil servants and pensions of retirees will start to be crushed and melted in the face of inflation as of the end of January. What to do; it is to give a decent wage and to establish justice in the distribution of income,” Aydın added.