Interim increase was made to the bill

The government opened July, which began with the demand for an interim increase by citizens who could not meet their expenses and the hope of an interest rate reduction by industrialists who could not make sales, with a natural gas increase. The government made a 'time-adjusted' increase in natural gas this year as it did last year. The inflation difference receivables of retirees and civil servants were kept at low rates with the natural gas increase postponed to the second half of the year. If the natural gas increase had been made in June, it would have affected inflation by 0.5 points. This rate would also have a limited, but upward effect on the salaries that millions of workers would receive as of July. The government, which has signaled that it will not make an interim increase in the minimum wage and will only give the inflation difference to civil servants and retirees, will have already more than taken back the approximately 16-17 percent increase that low-income people will receive in the second half of the year with the 24.6 percent natural gas increase. Another increase in natural gas is expected for the rest of the year.

INCREASED BY 90 PERCENT IN 1 YEAR

The Energy Market Regulatory Authority announced that residential consumers have been given an average 24.6 percent increase. Although the Turkish Statistical Institute announced the annual inflation as 35 percent, the sales price of 1000 cubic meters of natural gas in residential properties has increased by 90.45 percent in 1 year. SÖZCÜ writer Lawyer Mustafa Zafer reacted to the increase by saying, “If the minimum wage had been increased as much as the natural gas price was increased in a year, workers would receive at least 42,334 liras today.”

The government's decision to keep 25 cubic meters of natural gas, which everyone uses regardless of rich or poor, free of charge in order to win elections has also been passed on to the public. The sales price of natural gas has increased by 140 percent since April 2024. There is talk of deflation in energy in OECD countries, of which Türkiye is a member, because energy prices have decreased by 0.2 percent on an annual basis. While energy prices have decreased in 29 countries in the 38-member OECD, Turkey ranks first in energy increases.

How will a retiree get by?

There are concerns that natural gas price hikes will continue. Journalist Olcay Aydilek stated that new hikes in natural gas will be on the agenda for the rest of the year. Aydilek said, “According to the energy management, there is a need for a 40 percent increase in natural gas and a 65 percent increase in electricity prices in homes.” TEPAV Economist Ali Çufadar asked, “How will retirees get through the winter?” and then said, “Why is there a hike? A partial reason is the public’s exorbitant interest payments. It needs to be financed.”