‘Erdoğan’s circular on public saving measures is a bankrupt’s certificate’

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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a circular foreseeing a series of saving measures in the public institutions earlier yesterday (June 30).

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Group Deputy Chair Saruhan Oluç held a press conference at the Parliament later in the day and criticized the circular issued by President and AKP Chair Erdoğan.

Referring to the circular that also foresees the establishment of a "Price Stability Committee and Economy Coordination Board", Saruhan Oluç asked, "What happened? Are the resources all used up? Has the sea been depleted already? Have you come to your senses now?"

For years, we have said, 'You have established an order of gimmickry and extravagance, you are driving the economy to a multiple crisis.' Have you come to your senses now? Have you realized now that you issued a circular on the Price Stability Committee and Saving?

Drawing a parallel between the Price Stability Committee and the "Price Control Committee" set up in Turkey in the second half of the 1970s, HDP's Saruhan Oluç emphasized that prices cannot be kept in check with policing measures, verbal instructions or administrative fines.

'Economic mindset must change'

Further in his speech, Saruhan Oluç argued that the economic mindset must change in order to find a solution:

"In other words, production must be increased and a production-based economy must be put into operation. You may establish a Price Stability Committee all you want, you may take administrative and policing measures, you may utter threats from where you stand, but the result of this will point at a much harder period for you in the economy."

'A fast move towards bankruptcy'

Defining President and AKP Chair Erdoğan's circular on public saving as a "bankrupt's certificate" or an "arrangement of bankruptcy", Oluç said, "There is a fast move towards bankruptcy; they have perhaps already gone bankrupt but have not yet fully announced it."

Oluç also criticized the circular for not including the Presidency's Department for Administrative and Financial Affairs:

By doing this, the President has said that the saving circular will not be implemented in the palaces where he lives. All institutions are included, except for him. As a matter of fact, he must save money in the very first place; as the things stand in the Presidential Government System, everyday means loss, damage and extravagance for everyone living in this country. It has been revealed very clearly; what has happened since the first day has shown it.

(KÖ/SD)