Turkey’s Erdogan gears up social spending as 2023 election approaches

It is commented by many political experts that Erdogan’s administration plans to increase social spending before the election. It is also stated that the government will increase the gear in many expenditures, including TOKI’s social housing project.

The opposition has also made several statement that President Erdogan has begun to raise public spending in many areas, like with the case of most recent “housing project” move, in particular.

Apparently a substantial increase in public spending is planned to be made before the election which conomists strongly criticize that the fact it could increase inflation should be taken into consideration, seriously

For instance, the housing project to be realized by TOKI has to do with a $ 50 billion state-funded project, aimed at helping low-income families acquire housing, as one of the opening moves of a major spending campaign ahead of the election. Unbiased political experts note that 2023 elections are expected to be the toughest contest Erdogan has faced during his nearly 20 years in power.

Within this framework Erdogan had made a substantial minimum wage increase only a few months ago and it is understood that he is planning to announce another big increase in the minimum wage, as well as an increase in civil servants’ salaries, promotions for pensioners and cheap loans to win back the support of his former supporters, beginning of 2023 latest.

On the other hand, a new move by the government to comfort millions waiting to retire due to “delayed age issue” could also contribute to extraordinary effort spent by Erdogan to secure another 5 years as president.

To recap, despite sky-rocketing inflation and rising living costs in Turkey, the proportion of those who think that the economy is poorly managed is said to have recently declined in a poll conducted by Metropoll survey company.