CHP's İlgezdi calls for Retail Law to protect small businesses

Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi, Vice President of the Republican People's Party (CHP), has called for the implementation of a fair Retail Law to protect small tradespeople from unfair competition by chain supermarkets.

İlgezdi highlighted that local shopkeepers are struggling due to high rents, rising utility bills, increased wholesaler prices, and heavy social security (BAĞ-KUR) premiums. She noted that the proliferation of large chain stores is causing neighborhoods to lose their identity and local economic movement to stall.

The proposed measures include establishing binding rules regarding operating hours and distance requirements for retail chains, as well as providing relief for tax burdens and restructuring accumulated debts without interest to support the middle class.