While the law proposal, which includes the arrangements to increase the lowest civil servant salary to 22 thousand 17 liras and to increase pensions by 25 percent, was accepted in the Plan and Budget Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the first assessment came from the Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Şimşek. Şimşek said, “In 2023, we have made important improvements that affect our 15.9 million retirees and 4.9 million public employees. We will not allow permanent deterioration in public finance indicators by controlling the budget deficit and re-establishing fiscal discipline in the coming period.”
“WE INCREASED THE LOWEST RETIREMENT MONEY BY 114.3 PERCENT”
Minister Şimşek used the following statements in his social media accounts; “We increased our welfare levels by increasing their monthly salaries and wages well above the inflation rate. Compared to the end of 2022, we increased the lowest civil servant salary by 141.8% and the lowest pension by 114.3%.
“WE WILL TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE THE CURRENT DEFICIT”
In the upcoming period, we will not allow permanent deterioration in public finance indicators by controlling the budget deficit and re-establishing fiscal discipline. We are taking the necessary measures for this. We will support the Central Bank’s fight against inflation by reinforcing the harmony between monetary policy and fiscal policy. We will also reduce our country’s risk premium by taking steps to reduce the current account deficit.
“CONSTRUCTION OF 179 THOUSAND HOUSES IN THE EARTHQUAKE REGION STARTED”
We are bandaging the wounds of our citizens affected by the earthquake disaster. This year, we expect earthquake-related expenditures to reach 761.7 billion TL (3.1 percent of national income). Within this framework, the construction of 179 thousand houses in the earthquake zone has started. We plan to deliver 319 thousand houses to earthquake victims in approximately one year. The National Solidarity Package, which is being discussed in the parliament, aims to slightly reduce the impact of the additional costs caused by the earthquake on the budget. The said regulations will also indirectly support controlling the current account deficit.
