The deepening economic crisis and melting purchasing power have pushed citizens into one of the biggest debt spirals in history. According to current data, non-performing (bad) loans in the banking sector have increased by a striking rate of 66.6 percent since the beginning of 2026.
This table, in which the total bad loan stock reached 963 billion liras and the ratio of bad loans to the total loan stock increased to 3.4 percent, reveals that households cannot even cover their daily mandatory expenses, let alone pay their debts.
In this severe crisis environment where citizens could not pay their debts to banks, the General Health Insurance (GSS) premiums of the segments in the lowest income group of the society could not be paid and accumulated like a mountain. After this growing debt crisis, the government pushed the button for a new legal regulation.
The new omnibus bill, consisting of approximately 15 articles, the preparations of which have been brought to the final stage by the AKP staff, is expected to be submitted to the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) in a short time.
The most striking item of the proposal, which will come to the Parliament agenda next week if it does not arrive on Friday, is the UHI premium debts.
IT INTERESTS 1 MILLION PEOPLE
According to the draft, it is aimed to give breathing space to low-income citizens who do not have any institutional health insurance and have to pay their own premiums, but cannot do so due to economic inadequacies.
In this context, all GSS premium debts before January 1, 2017 will be deleted, taking into account the 10-year statute of limitations.
It is stated that approximately 1 million people with GSS premium debt will benefit from the regulation.
'WHAT IS THE CRIME OF THOSE WHO PAY THEIR DEBTS REGULARLY?' DISCUSSION
Although the government's preparations to erase GSS premium debts will give respite to citizens who are in debt, it has also brought about a major "injustice" debate in the public.
Citizens, who fulfilled their obligations to the state despite the most severe conditions of the economic crisis and financial difficulties, increased their GSS premiums from tooth to nail and paid them on time, reacted to this decision.
After the decision was heard, the question "What is the fault of those who pay their debts on time and without delay?" was brought to the agenda on social media and in public discussions.
PUNISHMENT FOR HONEST TAXPAYERS
Economists and lawyers also point out that the tax, premium and zoning amnesties that have become a habit in Türkiye and are issued periodically damage the trust in the state.
Experts state that such frequently implemented amnesty policies destroy the "payment culture" and "sense of justice" in society; He emphasizes that honest and regular taxpayers are punished, while those who neglect their obligations are rewarded.
It is stated that directly canceling the debt without offering any incentives or refunds to citizens who make regular payments creates a deep sense of injustice in those who fulfill their responsibilities towards the state.
CANCELED ENERGY ITEMS ARE ON THE TABLE
The omnibus proposal includes not only debt cancellation, but also critical energy regulations that were rejected by the Constitutional Court (AYM) in the previous legislative year.
CONTRADICTION WITH THE INVALIDITY OF LEGISLATIVE POWER
The canceled provisions of the "Law on Amendments to the Mining Law and Certain Laws" numbered 7501, which was brought to the Constitutional Court upon the application of the Republican People's Party (CHP), will be reconsidered with the new proposal.
The Constitutional Court had previously annulled the rules that gave the executive branch very wide discretion in the fields of natural gas and renewable energy.
In particular, the Supreme Court ruled that the authority to determine exceptions regarding the operation of floating LNG facilities and location changes should be transferred directly to the Energy Market Regulatory Board (EMRA) without drawing up the legal framework and basic principles; He decided to annul it, finding it contrary to the principles of "inalienability of legislative power" and "freedom of enterprise".
