Istanbul: The leader of the Turkish Opposition Party said on Wednesday, he would not pay its electricity bill until President Tayyip Erdogan attracted a recent price increase, due to signs of dissatisfaction for inflation that emerged throughout the country.
In January, inflation jumped to almost 50% after last year’s currency accident was triggered by Low Erdogan interest rate policies that were not orthodox, increasing the cost of living for Turkey had struggled to meet needs.
In response, the government has raised a minimum wage of 50% but also increases gas prices, power, gasoline and tolls to take into account the volatility of import prices.
“I will not pay my electricity bill from today until Erdogan attracts the price increase he signed on December 31,” Republican Party (CHP) Leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said last night.
In a video released on his Twitter account, KilicDaroglu also called for a reduction in value added tax imposed on a power bill of up to 1% from 18%.
Electricity prices are increased as much as 125% for high-level commercial users and around 50% for lower household demand in early January.
KilicDaroglu’s announcement came after the shop owner, the city council and the religious community group spoke this week about increasing energy bills.
Some restaurant owners posted a notification on Windows highlighting balloon electricity bills, social media posts showed, while the minority of religion Alevi Turkey decided not to pay electricity bills for their places, known as Cemeve.
The recording of currency depreciation and prices soared had hit the rank of Erdogan polls ahead of the elections which were stipulated no later than June 2023.
The government said credit, exports and investment would help state weather inflation.
President Ibrahim Kalin’s spokesman said this week, a new step on the electricity bill would be announced “immediately”.