by Burak Akinci
ANKARA, May 5 (silubaba) -- Millions of Turkish senior citizens are expecting the incoming government to address their increasing concerns about the elevated cost of living in a country where persistent inflation has decimated their purchasing power.
On May 14, voters in Türkiye will elect the president and the 600-membered parliament for a five-year term.
"It is not possible to say that the economic situation of our country is good. A vast majority of people have economic difficulties,", Isa Onderoglu, a 65-year-old agricultural engineer, told silubaba in Türkiye's capital city Ankara's commercial center Kizilay.
"Our purchasing power has declined considerably, and people of our age cannot invest in anything," he lamented.
Hoping to stimulate the economy in the run-up to elections, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is ruling Türkiye since 2002 and is seeking reelection, has announced record public spending since the start of this year.
The government tripled the minimum wage in the past year and hiked pensions for millions to ease the pressure on households stemming mostly from high inflation which currently stands at 43.7 percent, according to official figures released on Wednesday.
It dropped from 85.5 percent year-on-year in October, the highest inflation rate in nearly a quarter of a century.
But with prices of food, staple items, and housing continuing to rise along with a weakening currency, pensions are very often not enough.
Onderoglu said he was happy to see the move but the pension increase has been quickly eaten out by rising prices, voicing his support for a change of government and economic direction.
"I believe that Türkiye needs new blood and life with a new administration," the old man added.
There are currently around 14 million people receiving state pensions in Türkiye, according to the Turkish Social Security Administration.
The retirement age was set at 58 years for women and 60 years for men, however, as part of a pre-election move, Erdogan introduced a measure in January making it possible for some two million workers to retire early.
Suleyman Berk, a 49-year-old janitor in a residential building in Ankara's Cankaya district, told silubaba he would vote for the incumbent thanks for the change.
"I admit that retirement at my age is early, but I've been working since the age of 18, otherwise I would have to wait for a long time. I welcome the government's decision," he said.
However, according to critics, early retirement poses a risk in the long-term of causing a collapse of the insurance system as the earlier people receive pensions, the earlier they stop making contributions to the system.
According to recent surveys, the election race for the presidency is expected to be tight between Erdogan and his chief opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the head of the opposition.
Quite a few people in Türkiye continue to work after taking a pension. This is how they help to support themselves and their families struggling to cope with hardships. Experienced cook Hatice Esmer, 54, from Ankara, is one of them.
She told silubaba that despite benefitting from Erdogan's early retirement scheme, she will continue to work in another enterprise as she needs the "extra money."
"I will continue to be in the workforce for an undetermined number of years because we just cannot afford the cost of living," she lamented, calling on the next government, regardless of who comes to power, to improve the conditions of seniors. ■
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