Turkish main opposition leaders vows 14 wages in ambitious election promises

ANKARA

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The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader has pledged to double the amount of money given to pensioners on religious holidays if he becomes prime minister, ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled for June 7.

“I address to my retired brothers and sisters: You will get a bonus wage on Ramadan and the sacrifice feasts [Eid el-Fitr and Eid al-Adha] under my prime ministry,” CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said in a speech to his party members on Feb. 17.

“Turkey will see what peace really means,” he added.

Kılıçdaroğlu spent much of his speech criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) economic performance, describing it as “collapsed.”

“The economic policies [of the government] have collapsed. The unemployment rate is the biggest indicator of this,” he said, also promising to eliminate citizens’ “growing debts.”

“Citizens’ debts to banks were 6 quadrillion liras in the old currency [6 billion liras in today’s currency], and they were 352 quadrillion [352 billion] liras in 2014. But don’t be afraid, my indebted citizens. I will save you from these debts during the CHP’s rule and my prime ministry,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.