Turkish opposition MPs decry pension hardships and NATO summit spending

Saadet Party deputy Mehmet Aygün criticised the government for allocating resources to the NATO summit that he said equal the salaries of 550,000 retirees, arguing that the state can mobilise agencies quickly for the summit but not for citizens' safety. He warned that retirees are forced to live below the hunger line and called for ending the practice of spending on “show” while pensioners suffer.

CHP MP Veli Ağbaba denounced a proposed law to raise the minimum pension to 23,552 lira as insufficient, stating that the amount cannot cover basic food prices and pushes retirees into poverty. He rejected the government's "no resources" claim, saying resources exist but are mis‑prioritised, and urged that pensions be treated as a right rather than charity.

Both politicians highlighted the severe economic strain on Turkey's retirees and accused the government of misallocating funds amid high‑cost events such as the NATO summit.