Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, condemned the government’s suppression of May Day celebrations in Istanbul, where 49 individuals were detained. “I would remind those who demand adherence to the law from the populace that they should abide by the Constitution themselves first,” Özel stated at a party meeting on Wednesday, drawing attention to the overzealous application of the law by security forces during the events.
Özel also voiced concerns over the economic difficulties facing workers, worsened by recent rises in VAT from 10% to 20% on numerous items, saying, “The pre-election pledges of no planned VAT increases were deceitful wordplay. It is now evident that rises in VAT were always on the agenda, directly targeting the pockets of citizens.”
In a striking critique, Özel addressed the invisible presence of the policies of the International Monetary Fund in Turkey’s economic strategy led by Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek. “The IMF is officially absent, but its ghost wanders through Şimşek’s policies, eroding salaries through high inflation and reducing purchasing power as a supposed solution to the crisis,” he said.