‘Almost half population having financial issues’
MINISTERS are seeking to meet Turkish officials for talks on the economy, it was announced as a new survey revealed that almost half of the population is having financial problems and is increasingly concerned about the state of the country.
Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman said they had asked for an appointment to discuss issues including the slump in the Turkish lira, solving “structural problems” and eliminating the budget deficit.
Meanwhile he called on the opposition, who he said were “well aware” the government had no control over exchange rates, not to use the “cheap tactic” of “exploiting developments [such as fuel and power price rises] for political reasons”.
He urged: “We should all concentrate on how to overcome the serious economic problem before us.”
Dr Erhürman was speaking on Thursday in the wake of publication of the latest quarterly report by the Centre for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies (CMIRS), which cited worries among participants including the TL crisis, diminishing purchasing power, chronic traffic problems and an increase in crime and corruption.
In the June document, CMIRS director Mine Yücel said their investigations had also shown initial confidence in the four-way coalition government had waned since it took office in February.
Now 63.39 per cent of people reported finding the government “unsuccessful” while just 36.61 per cent considered it to be succeeding in tackling key problems.
The number of people describing themselves as “often concerned” has risen to 44.59 per cent, from 31.7 per cent at the last survey, although the number who said they were “desperate”, “depressed” or “angry” all fell.
Ms Yücel also expressed frustration at a “vicious circle” when it came to addressing problems aired in previous surveys.
She said CMIRS had been issuing reports since 2016 on issues such as health, corruption, traffic, food safety, quarries, the environment, communal values and increasing violence, and had suggested solutions, no administration had taken heed.
Ms Yücel reiterated high levels of concern about “widespread bribery and malpractice”; “out of control” violence, drug trafficking and addiction, human trafficking, organised crime and money-laundering; traffic problems akin to “communal suicide”; and a “disturbing” rise in the influence of religion and of Turkey.
She said priority had to be given to justice and public sector reform. “Irreversible” damage to the environment had to be stopped immediately and comprehensive five-year plans launched in economic, social, urban, agriculture, tourism, education, health, traffic and human rights fields.
Ms Yücel also urged a halt to property “profiteering” and “injustice”, and for buildings put up without planning permission to be demolished, with current development strategy — based on construction, gambling and universities — abandoned.