Erdoğan seeks to increase his own salary by 14.4 percent amid mass poverty in Turkey

The budget proposal in parliament for 2022 foresees a 14.4 percent increase in the president's salary, which equates to the sum of four minimum wages. The proposal offers the president a monthly wage of 100,000 Turkish Liras.

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seeks to increase his own salary by 14.4 percent, according to the 2022 budget proposal currently in parliament. 

The proposed increase in the president's salary equates to 4.5 minimum wages, which is 2,825 liras, and will bring up his monthly income to 100,000 Turkish Liras from 88,000 liras. 

"This man is a penny pincher when it comes to workers and laborers, but very generous to himself! The palace gets glamor and the people get poverty!" wrote main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Deputy Chairman Özgür Özel.

The president's wages were some 59,000 Turkish Liras in 2018, since when the Turkish Lira has depreciated drastically against foreign currencies and its purchasing power has dipped as a result of inflation.