German, French people can't find food, Erdoğan says to praise Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Oct. 9 that the people of France and Germany were waiting in long lines because they couldn't find food.

Sunday October 10 2021 03:46 pm

President Erdoğan is seen throwing tea packages to voters in this file photo.

Duvar English

The people of Germany and France can't find food and are waiting in line for it, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Oct. 9 at an opening ceremony in southern Adana, amid soaring food prices and inflation.

"Do you see the current state of the U.S. and Britain? They don't have gas," Erdoğan said.

"There are lines in Germany and France. They can't find food. Thank god we don't have that in our country," the president noted.

Turkish citizens have been complaining of food prices in the country, with Erdoğan's visit to a cooperative market to prove that prices are in a reasonable range has failed to ease them.

Turkish inflation accelerated to its fastest rate in two-and-a-half years in September as Erdoğan stepped up his unconventional efforts to bring down soaring prices.

Data released on Oct. 4 by Turkey’s official statistics agency showed that the consumer price index rose at an annual rate of 19.58 percent last month — up from 19.25 in August. The rate is nearly four times the central bank’s official inflation target and the biggest yearly increase since March 2019.

Erdoğan, whose ruling party is suffering from historically low poll ratings, has faced growing public discontent over the soaring cost of living.

The president on Oct. 9 also said that Turkish exports were breaking records every month and that employment had risen well above pre-pandemic levels. Turkey has maintained a steady growth trend since 2020, Erdoğan also said.

"Surely the real heroes behind this success are the private industry, with their investors and workers," Erdoğan said, adding that the government rewards the private industry with raises.

The president proceeded to boast about shielding the public from "explicit increases in energy prices across the globe," even though Ankara has bumped up electricity prices multiple times in 2021.