CHP Deputies in Konya: Pensioners and Tradesmen's Problem of Making a Living

CHP Aydın Deputy Bülent Tezcan, Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal and İzmir Deputy Yüksel Taşkın came to Konya for a series of visits and met with the tradesmen of the Women's Market and the people of Konya who were out shopping.

While retirees told the MPs about their economic difficulties that their pensions were not enough to meet basic needs, tradesmen complained about increasing rent, energy and personnel expenses as well as falling sales.

“24 THOUSAND 700 LIRA PENSION PAYMENT IS ENOUGH FOR 4 DAYS”

A retiree who complained about the financial difficulties stated that his salary was not enough to meet his basic needs and said, "24 thousand 700 liras is enough for 4 days. I cannot find that either in winter. In winter, it goes down to one day. This year, natural gas was 3-4 liras. Will it be 7-8 liras this year? You cannot make a living with this salary."

A tradesman operating in the Women's Market explained that expenses have increased in many items, from shop rent to personnel expenses, from taxes to energy costs, and said, "The expenses are high. Be it shop rents, let's say staff costs... In other words, income does not cover these expenses anymore. Electricity, water, BAĞ-KUR, SSK; they are the first ones. In other words, earnings do not cover these anymore."

"THEY ARE FINE, NOT MINE"

Another retiree stated that he had difficulty making ends meet with his 23 thousand lira monthly salary and said, "Will the retiree be satisfied? I don't know, I am not satisfied at all. Let the government say they are satisfied. They are fine. I am not salty. 23 thousand lira is not enough. If you go hungry, it is enough, if you don't go hungry, it is not enough. This system will not continue like this. I hope, I hope it will change."

"THE TRADESHOPS CLOSE THE SHUTTERS WITHOUT REPRESENTATION"

Another tradesman in the market stated that sales have dropped seriously and citizens are having difficulty buying even half a kilo of products. The tradesman said:

"I come here daily. I can't sell it. Come on, there were so many apricots this year, it happened. I'm not the only one, the market is in turmoil. Shopkeepers close their shutters without even making a profit. I've been here for 40 years. I don't remember the day I was broke until this year. The goods can't be sold. It's half a kilo, 250 liras. What will he do? When you go home, the wife has money, the child has money, the school fee. Thank God there is a house. If that doesn't happen, it's okay."