Thursday December 02 2021 04:29 pm

Footage shows ministers need Erdoğan's 'permission' for press interviews

President Erdoğan intervened in the conversation of Health Minister Fahrettin Koca with reporters by asking the latter what the minister had told them. When Erdoğan wanted to find out if planned pay rises for the medical staff had been discussed, Koca said: "Would I ever sir? Would I ever say it without your permission?”

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has interrupted Health Minister Fahrettin Koca's conversation with reporters, asking both the minister and reporters what they had spoken about.

When the minister said he had answered questions about the medical staff, Erdoğan turned towards the reporters, asking them if Koca had talked about the planned pay rises.

Koca smilingly told Erdoğan: “I did not. Would I ever sir? Would I ever say it without your permission?”

When the reporters inquired about learning the details of the upcoming pay rises, Erdoğan answered: “5,000 liras, 2,500 liras; pay rises such that are on their way.”

When Erdoğan gave his “approval” to Koca to talk about the issue by saying “explain,” the minister said the government plans to increase the monthly salary of all practicing physicians by 2,500 liras and all specialist physicians by 5,000 liras in the new year.

Koca said that they expect the support of all lawmakers in parliament for the plan.

Erdoğan then turned towards the reporters and asked them if they found the planned pay rises for the medical staff “good” or not.