President Erdoğan increases own salary by 39 pct

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has increased his own salary by 39 percent, raising it from TL 100,000 ($3,829) to TL 140,000 ($5,360), local media reported on Tuesday, citing an opposition politician.

The development, which came amid negative reactions to the recent 25 percent increase in pensions, was announced on social media by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) parliamentary group deputy chairman Özgür Özel.

According to Özel, Erdoğan raised his own salary using the supplementary budget presented to the General Assembly.

“Tayyip Erdoğan, who increased retirees’ pensions by a mere 25 percent, is granting himself a 39 percent raise with the supplementary budget he introduced!” Özel said, adding that the president’s move comes as “86 million people struggle to make ends meet” in Turkey.

The Turkish president is held responsible for the country’s worst economic crisis of his time in power.

The lira has lost more than 20 percent of its value against the dollar since Erdoğan extended his rule into a third decade in a runoff election on May 28.

The drop underscores a radical shift in policies since the election that includes an end to a two-year era of ultra-low interest rates.