Turkey’s Opposition Leader: “If government doesn’t raise minimum wage, we’ll respond very harshly”

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel emphasized the need for a raise in the minimum wage at the end of June during his visit to the Aegean Municipalities Union. In a strong call to the government, Özel stated, “Those considering not raising the minimum wage should think again. We will respond to this very clearly and harshly.”

During his day-long engagements in Izmir, Özel’s final visit was to Chairman of the Aegean Municipalities Union. Speaking at the visit, the CHP Leader’s agenda focused on the economy. Criticizing the inadequacy of holiday bonuses given to retirees, Özel also delivered stern messages regarding an interim raise in the minimum wage by the end of June.

Touching on the elections for the Aegean Municipalities Union and the Turkish Municipalities Union, Özel emphasized ‘democratic and participatory management’ and said:

“The Aegean Municipalities Union was established in Izmir in 1986 and moved its headquarters to Manisa in 1994. The consensus reached in the election, with all municipalities and metropolitan municipalities in the Aegean being under CHP, is a very gratifying situation.

The CHP has moved from an image of being confined to the coasts to a position where it has won all the municipalities in the Aegean, managing 65% of the population with CHP municipalities.”

He also said, “Those considering not raising the minimum wage should think again. We will respond to this very clearly and harshly.”