Turkish political governance and economic reform calls

Political leaders in Turkey have raised concerns regarding the rule of law, state governance, and economic instability. Bülent Kuşoğlu of the CHP described the situation as a potential “state crisis” driven by mismanagement and inadequate oversight by the Capital Markets Board, specifically citing allegations involving the flight of millions of euros to Switzerland.

Other political figures, including Özcan Pehlivanoğlu of the Zafer Party and İbrahim Gök, emphasized the need for impartial legal frameworks and strengthened rule of law to restore investor confidence and protect citizen rights. Expanding on these calls for reform, DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan has challenged both the government and the opposition to meet 54 specific legal requirements set by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). Babacan noted that since 2022, Turkey has fulfilled only 10 of these obligations, highlighting a critical need for new laws regarding public procurement and zoning rents to prevent corruption.

In the Grand National Assembly, Saadet Party MP Birol Aydın criticized current economic management and wealth distribution, introducing the concept of a “satiety limit” (tokluk sınırı) to describe wealth accumulation through public tenders.

Building on these concerns regarding wealth distribution, İYİ Party Edirne Deputy Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akalın has criticized the repeated implementation of ‘wealth peace’ regulations. Akalın questioned the transparency of these regulations, noting that while workers, tradespeople, and farmers are taxed on their earnings, there is a lack of clarity regarding large wealth increases. He warned that if tax justice is undermined, trust in the state will be shaken. Additionally, Akif Güzel has called for predictable and fair tax legislation to provide economic relief to retirees and low-income individuals struggling against rising costs.