Turkey: Anger mounts over rising electricity prices
Aerial view of Istanbul.
AFP - YASIN AKGUL
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Against a background of record inflation, soaring bills are fueling anger and concern among the population.
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With our correspondent in Istanbul,
Anne Andlauer
In Turkey, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) announced on Thursday that electricity had been cut off at his home due to unpaid bills.
Kemal Kiliçdaroglu declared at the beginning of February
that he would no longer pay his bills
until the government decreed a drop in electricity prices.
And this increase affects the population.
At the beginning of the year, when the price of electricity jumped 125% in one month, Salih, a teacher, went through his bill in search of an error, as it seemed excessive: "
When you paid your bills, there's not much left to live on.
Look at the markets: people are now buying products individually!
I didn't have enough to pay my bill so I borrowed from friends.
»
“
Do you know what we deprive ourselves of to pay our bills?
»
Zübeyde, a retiree, also deplores the drop in her purchasing power.
In March, his electricity consumption cost him 310 pounds, against 120 pounds on average a few months ago.
“
The government has increased our retirement pensions but the bills have increased more than the pensions!
Insha'Allah, it won't last.
I can still afford to pay, but what about those who can't?
she wonders.
► To read also: Today the economy - Why Turkey will not come out of its inflation anytime soon
Zübeyde hopes that there will be no further price increases this year.
But
the war in Ukraine
has increased the price of gas that Turkey imports and which is used, for a third, to produce electricity.
“
Do you know what we deprive ourselves of to pay our bills?
What we eat, what our children eat, our social life.
At breakfast, you choose between cheese and olives.
This government can't manage the situation, I hope we will get rid of it soon!
“, indignant Metin, a trader who lets out his anger.
With annual inflation at over 61%, discontent is brewing in the population.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is under pressure to rectify the situation before the next elections, in June 2023.
► To read also: Economic crisis in Turkey: in the face of record inflation, the Turks are stocking up
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Turkey
Economy
Recep Tayyip Erdogan