CHP slams ‘ineffective’ anti-inflation measures

ANKARA

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the government’s anti-inflation program for being ineffective, saying prices are still increasing despite the economic measures.

“There is fire in the kitchens as inflation increases. Are salaries increased? No. They have announced an anti-inflation program and declared a 10 percent discount in prices. But there is no result. Prices are increasing,” Kılıçdaroğlu said on Nov. 6 addressing his lawmakers in parliament.

He recalled a circular from the Interior Ministry, which authorizes governors for inspecting an unfair increase in prices of goods and said it has not produced any results either.

Prices have not been slashed even if the Turkish Lira gains value against the United States dollar, the CHP leader noted.

He recalled that a bureaucrat who announced inflation rates had been dismissed. The CHP leader accused the government of getting into debt by selling the state’s equities.

“The AKP [Justice and Development Party] means high costs,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, stressing the unemployment rate is increasing despite a program to tackle unemployment.

The CHP leader criticized President Recep Tayip Erdoğan for the “expensive” construction of the presidential palace and accused him for “prodigality.”

“You will be complicit if you vote for the AKP,” he said

Unveiling a new set of measures to fight inflation, Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak vowed an “all-out war” on inflation with the support of the private sector on Oct. 9.

Under the program, Turkey’s private sector has agreed to cut prices on its goods by at least 10 percent across the board.

Turkish annual inflation surged to 25 percent in October, official data showed on Nov. 5, hitting its highest in 15 years.