Welfare Party Leader Erbakan: ‘Input costs are increasing by 49.9 percent, and you are imposing price hikes on grains between 13 to 25 percent’

Leader of the Welfare Party Fatih Erbakan criticized the wheat purchase price announced by the Grain Board (TMO) 2 days ago, stating, ‘The input costs of farmers are increasing by 49.9%, and you are raising the price of wheat and barley for farmers between 13% and 25%. This means crushing the farmer, just like crushing the retiree.’ Fatih Erbakan, the Chairman of the Welfare Party, attended the Provincial Presidents Meeting held at the party headquarters. Erbakan made statements on the agenda before the meeting. He reminded that it has been 1 year since the ruling AK Party announced its new economic management. Erbakan pointed out that in the past year under the supervision of Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, the exchange rate increased by 100%, inflation by 75%, and interest rates by 488%. He highlighted the significant cost of living increases such as bread jumping from 4 to 10 liras and emphasized the burden on citizens due to inflation and tax hikes. Referring to the May inflation figures, Erbakan stated that Turkey is experiencing its fourth highest inflation period in the last 60 years. He emphasized that the inflation rate in Turkey ranks first in Europe and third in the world. Erbakan also criticized the government for neglecting producers’ issues, especially in setting low prices for agricultural products.
Erbakan stated that the growth in the Turkish economy over the last 15 quarters does not reflect the well-being of the people, emphasizing that the growth has led to impoverishment for the citizens. He criticized the government’s focus on construction with minimal attention to industrial, technological, agricultural, and livestock production, causing the economy to shrink for individuals like tradesmen, civil servants, retirees, and farmers. Erbakan also highlighted the challenges faced by retirees in affording sacrificial animals due to low holiday bonuses, and the struggles of tea producers with insufficient prices offered for tea leaves. He criticized the government for failing to address the increasing input costs for farmers while marginally increasing the prices of agricultural products, creating a situation where farmers are being financially burdened. Erbakan urged for a significant raise in minimum pension and minimum wage levels.
Regarding the recent grain purchase price announcements by the Grain Board (TMO), Erbakan criticized the low increase rates for wheat and barley, pointing out the disparity between rising input costs for farmers and the modest price adjustments offered to them. He emphasized that such actions are akin to crushing the farmers, similar to the struggles of retirees. Erbakan advocated for raising the minimum wage to at least 25,000 liras by July and equalizing the lowest pension to the minimum wage level. In response to a question about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ‘softening politics’ approach, Erbakan expressed the Welfare Party’s stance on conducting politics in a civil and respectful manner and stated willingness to engage in dialogue with other political parties if approached.