Turkey's main opposition party blasts state of economy

Civil servants, workers, retirees, minimum wage earners can't get by, says CHP chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The leader of Turkey's main opposition party on Tuesday criticized the current state of the country's economy.

"Civil servants, workers, retirees, and minimum wage earners can't get by. Veterans and the relatives of martyrs are unable to live on their salaries. Everyone is in big trouble," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, told his Republican People's Party's (CHP) parliamentary group.

"Tradesmen who buy something today can't restock it tomorrow morning. Market prices change by the hour," said Kilicdaroglu.

Turkey registered an annual increase of 19.89% in consumer prices in October, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) announced on Nov. 3.

Annual inflation rose by 0.31 percentage points from 19.58% a month ago, while the figure was 11.89% in October 2020, according to TurkStat data.

Kilicdaroglu said his party was aware of all economic troubles in the country, adding: "We know of all of these. But, despite them, we're saying: 'don't worry.'"

"There's little (time) left," until these difficulties are lifted, he said, in a reference to Turkey's next elections set for 2023.

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