Vice President of the New Welfare Party Kılıç: “The citizen cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel”

Deputy Chairman of the New Welfare Party, Suat Kılıç, stated, “The Minister of Treasury and Finance says, ‘The hardest days are behind us.’ If the hardest days are behind us, why is the minimum wage still below the poverty line? Why is the projected increase rate for the minimum wage for 2025 still around 25%? If hard days are behind us, what is this helplessness we are experiencing? Citizens cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Suat Kılıç made these remarks to the press following the Weekly Ordinary Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting held yesterday at his party’s headquarters. Addressing the statements made by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli regarding ‘Öcalan should come and speak in Parliament, and the isolation should be lifted,’ Kılıç said, “The toothpaste is out of the tube. What is in the tube? Freedom for Apo, is that not enough? The head of the terrorist organization, the blood-stained traitor speaking to the nation from the podium of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, calling on the organization. Our nation should know that it will not be possible for the head of the separatist organization, the blood-stained traitor, to take the podium in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which includes even a single representative of the National View. Let alone this, it will not even be possible for him to approach the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Moreover, it will not even be a matter of discussion for him to come out from where he is, İmralı Prison. Our esteemed nation should be at ease. Those who hold secret talks with terrorist organizations and engage in off-the-record negotiations should consider the reality of the New Welfare Party. As long as the New Welfare Party exists, we advise them not to act recklessly. There will be no negotiations with terrorism as long as the New Welfare Party exists. The Republic of Turkey will continue its struggle against terrorist organizations and terrorists with all its institutions until the last terrorist is neutralized.”

“Imposing a political ban on Ekrem İmamoğlu is not foolishness, but rather insanity”

Regarding the possibility of a political ban on Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in the case he is being tried, Kılıç stated, “It appears that the possibility of a ban on Mr. İmamoğlu has turned into a significant political propaganda tool within the Republican People’s Party (CHP) corridors. First and foremost, I want to express this; if imposing a political ban on Ekrem İmamoğlu is not foolishness, it is certainly insanity. Let him compete freely, let him measure himself. The place to measure himself is the ballot box, not the courtrooms. If you think you cannot win, if you are afraid, step aside and let us handle it. We will take care of the necessary actions at the ballot box. The essence of politics is competition; it is not eliminating rivals through bans. Step aside and support the candidate of the New Welfare Party. Let us fulfill our responsibilities in the elections. Not by fear, banning, or fleeing. It is foolish to impose a political ban on someone instead of presenting a better, more reliable, more qualified, more competent, and more meritorious candidate to the public. It is a detachment from the reality universe. It is turning an ordinary mayor into a hero. In this context, we advise that no one should attempt to influence the judicial processes regarding the mentioned case and that the CHP should refrain from trying to gain political advantage from it. Politics focused solely on Ekrem İmamoğlu does not suit the Republican People’s Party. Because there is also the reality of Mansur Yavaş in Ankara.”

“Let the A Party be for justice like the New Welfare Party”

Suat Kılıç congratulated Yavuz Ağıralioğlu, who established the A Party, saying, “We welcome Ağıralioğlu to the world of party leaders. May the A Party be beneficial for the homeland and the nation. Let it be for justice like our New Welfare Party. Let the nation speak, let the country speak, let conscience speak, let compassion speak. Let it seek goodness and righteousness like the New Welfare Party. Let it call right as right and wrong as wrong like the New Welfare Party. May the front of those who call right as right and wrong as wrong expand. We say ‘Amen’ to our prayer.”

“It is a shame, it is a pity, it is a sin, it is waste”

Referring to payments to be made to contractors under the build-operate-transfer projects of the General Directorate of Highways, Kılıç stated, “As the budget figures and details for the year 2025 become apparent, unfortunately, the darkness we face is becoming even more evident. The amount to be paid to contractors in 2025 under the build-operate-transfer projects of the General Directorate of Highways is 663 billion lira. Our President said no penny will come out of our pockets. Unfortunately, it is not the state that does not spend a single penny; it is the contractors. 663 billion lira. This is the amount paid by the state as a mandatory counterpart for bridges not crossed and highways not used. It is a shame, it is a pity, it is a sin, it is waste. The company that will take the job is known, the bank from which it will take the loan is known. The amount it will receive in an environment without competition is roughly known. The guaranteed payments to be made by the state are known. It is clear who will get rich and who will get poor. This unjust profit period must come to an end.”

“Citizens cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel”

Criticizing the statement of Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek saying, ‘The hardest days are behind us,’ Kılıç said, “The Minister of Treasury and Finance says, ‘The hardest days are behind us.’ If the hardest days are behind us, then why is the minimum wage still below the poverty line? Why is the projected increase rate for the minimum wage for 2025 still around 25%? If hard days are behind us, what is this helplessness we are experiencing? Citizens cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel. If hard days are behind us, for whom have they passed? The hardest days are behind us, are the hardest days ahead? We do not know what we should understand.”

“Erdoğan and his cabinet are stuck between a knot and a solution”

In response to a journalist’s question regarding MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s call for ‘Öcalan,’ Kılıç evaluated President Erdoğan’s speech at the October 29 reception, stating, “Erdoğan and his cabinet are stuck between a knot and a solution. If they were to reject the statements made, the ties with the coalition would be strained. If they confirm the statements made, then a distance will grow between them and society. Because the calls that mean freedom for the head of the terrorist organization have been rejected by society and are not accepted. They have not been accepted by the families of martyrs either. These statements have not been approved by millions who have paid the price of terrorism with their lives and property for 40 years. Therefore, we see that Erdoğan and his cabinet are stuck between a solution and a knot. If they do not approve of Mr. Bahçeli’s statements, then the coalition relations will deteriorate. If they approve these statements, the ties with society will be severed. That is why they are caught in between.