The guarantee of social peace in a country is the middle income group. This group can also be defined as social segments that are self-sufficient without the need for income support from the state or any other institution.
Unfortunately, the middle class in Turkey is becoming low-income day by day.
Implemented wrong economic policies harm this group and thus social peace. In fact, the main source of sometimes extreme social problems is direct or indirect economic difficulties. Turkey's economic data makes it more and more difficult to manage the country with each passing day.
After the elections, when the electoral economy peaked, the increases in taxes, hikes, and so-called regulations in fuel prices, which deeply affected everyone, peaked the discontent among the people.
In our country, in 2021, the ratio of middle income group was 70%, low income group was 15% and high income group was around 15%. These rates have completely reversed in 2022.
The proportion of our middle-income people decreased from 70 percent to 20 percent. The share of low-income people sadly increased from 15% to 60%, while the rate of high-income people was 20%.
In addition, rumors that political concessions can be made for the economy are now even on the tongues of our people on the street. The announcement that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will come to Turkey on July 28 is, in a sense, proof of what point these concessions can reach.
The government, which used the Palestinian issue in domestic politics and even spent it, is now trying to get closer with the prime minister of Israel, which it calls a terrorist state, so that Mediterranean gas can be transported to Europe. This situation is also important for Netanyahu. Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel's most right-wing, most radical and Zionist coalition government, has been protesting in the squares for months.
Being able to visit Turkey will be a show of strength against the groups that are against it at home. In other words, Turkey's economic problems and its efforts to get closer to Israel have turned into an opportunity for Netanyahu that he cannot find.
Anyone with common sense is aware that the alarm bells ringing for the Turkish economy are now much closer. While the rich got richer, the people became poorer and the poor became poorer. Explaining this situation only with the conditions of the epidemic will not lead us to the right conclusion. Because even this result proves how unprotected the economy is against external risks.
Even the visits to the Gulf countries last week have only one source of motivation; it is to find an answer to Turkey's urgent financing needs. At this point, the companies put on the table in the Wealth Fund are used as a tool to encourage their counterparts.
The sad thing is that such negotiations are not considered long-term. The questions of what political and social harm may occur do not come to mind. Overcoming today's congestion is the only goal. It is the common determination of almost everyone that they act with the logic of "We'll see later".
It is obvious that the group that is most affected by the current economic conditions is the low-income group, but it is necessary for the middle-income group to rise up to get out of the crisis they are in.
Especially the problems of the middle income group contain all kinds of risks. One of the most important risks is the threats to the family institution due to the problems experienced through economic deprivation.
Our workers, civil servants, retirees, and artisans whose incomes have fallen tragically, who cannot reach a decently livable wage, are being dragged into a vortex of despair from struggling with material and moral problems. More than half of the workers in Turkey are trying to make a living on the minimum wage at the poverty line.
The minimum wage has now become the basic wage.
In order for the advice "Let the people live so that the state can live" come to life, the necessary economic conditions must first be provided to our people who deserve a dignified life. Failure in the economy is causing incredible damage to our country's foreign policy. This situation is not sustainable.
It is imperative that all segments of society stand up. First and foremost, the ability of our middle-income group people to stand on their own feet should be the primary goal. Let's not forget that it is easier to build a healthy future than to save the day.