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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Saruhan Oluç held a press conference at the Parliament yesterday (April 11) and talked about the issues on Turkey's public agenda.
Speaking first about the economic crisis, Oluç criticized Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati and said, "The problem is not with the Minister of Treasury and Finance. The problem is with the AKP Chair [and President] Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 'the great economist'."
Referring to the remarks of Minister Nebati, who frequently announces a new and later date when Turkey's inflation will fall, Oluç noted that "because the great economist did not see these mistakes and shortsightedness of the Minister, we are now in this situation".
He added, "It is expected that with such an inept and weak Minister of Treasury and Finance, Turkey's economy will recover, prices will get stable and workers, laborers, pensioners, people with disabilities, villagers, shopkeepers, young people and women will have some sigh of relief."
"His attitude towards inflation would never do," protested HDP's Oluç and explained: "We are talking about a minister whose every statement has turned out to be wrong. He said that inflation will fall after December. But he did not say to what percentage it will rise until December."
Referring to the upcoming general elections in 2023, he said, "Why will you reduce it after December? Because elections are coming, right?"
'Even official figures are over 61 percent'
Citing the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), Oluç recalled that inflation has risen to 61 percent even according to TurkStat. He said, 'The real inflation is much higher; we see.' Bravo," said Oluç: "With such an attitude, it is impossible for the economy to recover, to take steps to relieve society and people, curb poverty or eliminate hunger and poverty.
Referring to the statements of AKP officials who said that "the necessary intervention will be made if the minimum wage remains below the inflation," HDP's Oluç stated, "You increased the minimum wage and it has melted, dropping below the inflation ... You still say that 'you will review it if necessary.' How for much longer will you wait?"
'Why are unemployment figures inconsistent?'
Further in his statement, HDP Group Deputy Chair Oluç talked about the February 2022 labor force statistics announced by TurkStat yesterday.
Citing the TurkStat data, Oluç recalled that the number of unemployed people dropped by 178 thousand in a month and said, "The drop in unemployment is of course important. But is this the truth?"
Referring to the data of the state agency Turkish Employment Agency (İŞ-KUR), Oluç underlined that the number of registered unemployed increased by 352 thousand between February 2021 and 2022. "According to TurkStat, the number of unemployed dropped by 623 thousand people in the same period. What is happening? There is a gap of 948 thousand people. Where have these 948 thousand people gone? Is it known? No, it is not".
'What is this unlawfulness, barbarity?'
Oluç also talked about the police raid on the HDP Cizre District Organization in Turkey's Kurdish-majority Şırnak province in the morning hours yesterday. Oluç briefly said the following about the issue:
"They broke down the door, destroying our 4-storey district building and scattering everything all around.
"You raid the district building and do this to the district building in a district where we get 90 percent of the votes. You detain 8 people and bring the building upside down. You trample upon everything with your boots, including the prayer rugs, you break down the doors and windows and smear the walls, doors, posters and furniture with the smut on the stove.
"I am talking about law enforcement who have gotten their share from vandalism so much. What is this hate and violence? This unlawfulness and barbarism? For what do you take revenge? For what do you take revenge from the Kurdish people and Cizre?
"Let me tell you: You are taking revenge for the Newroz scene in Cizre. You do it for this, right? This is the situation. You are taking revenge for the Newroz scene." (AS/SD)
