 demanding that it readjust its inflation data, claiming he cannot make ends meet due to the low inflation figures reported by the agency, which then lead to insufficient pension hikes, the Velev news website reported.){kind=link}
A former judge of Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeals has filed a petition with the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) demanding that it readjust its inflation data, claiming he cannot make ends meet due to the low inflation figures reported by the agency, which then lead to insufficient pension hikes, the Velev news website reported.
Retired judge Seyfettin Çilesiz will take TurkStat to court if the agency does not comply.
The petition, submitted by Çilesiz’s attorney, Ali Erdem Gündoğan, demands that TurkStat revise its inflation calculations for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2024. Gündoğan stated that if TurkStat does not respond within 30 days, they will take the matter to an administrative court.
Alleging that the agency’s reported low inflation rates have led to inadequate pension adjustments, former judge says he is unable to afford basic living expenses.
Çilesiz, a former member of the Supreme Court of Appeals’ 7th Criminal Chamber, claims that TurkStat’s inflation data do not reflect the actual cost increases in everyday expenses such as food and housing.
“High-ranking judicial officials like my client being unable to meet their basic needs shows the severity of the issue. Imagine the plight of ordinary retirees,” lawyer Gündoğan said.
The move by Çliesiz highlights a broader discontent among Turkish citizens about the accuracy of official inflation data. TurkStat has been criticized for understating inflation rates, which affects wage and pension adjustments. According to TurkStat, inflation was over 71 percent in June, whereas a group of independent economists reported it as above 113 percent.
The discrepancy has significant implications for pensioners and salaried workers. If inflation is underreported, cost-of-living adjustments lag behind actual price increases, eroding purchasing power.
A recent survey by MetroPOLL Research found that 81.3 percent of respondents believe the economy is poorly managed, with significant portions of the people who voted for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) also expressing dissatisfaction.
The financial strain extends beyond retired officials. The Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) reported that the hunger threshold for a family of four rose to TL 19,234 ($581) in July, while the poverty threshold climbed to TL 62,652 ($1,894).
The hunger threshold is defined as the amount of money that a family of four living in the capital city of Ankara needs to spend for healthy and balanced nourishment, while the poverty line adds to that other expenses such as clothing, housing (rent and utilities), transportation, education and healthcare.
The current minimum wage of TL 17,002 ($514) is insufficient to meet basic nutritional needs, let alone cover other essential expenses.
“If TurkStat doesn’t correct its inflation figures, everyone who has suffered financially has the right to seek justice,” attorney Gündoğan said.
TurkStat’s credibility has been under scrutiny for several years, with accusations of manipulating key economic statistics. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has recently filed criminal complaints against TurkStat officials, accusing them of misconduct and manipulating inflation data to mask a cost of living crisis.
A MetroPOLL survey indicated that 61.7 percent of Turks believe TurkStat’s figures understate the actual inflation rate, reflecting widespread distrust in the agency’s data.