VAN - Economist Özgür Müftüoğlu stated that TÜİK is trying to cover up the robbery by hiding the real inflation, and that a new process should be built in which democracy and law will be valid.

The "low interest, high exchange rate" decision, which AKP calls "Turkey's new economy model," not only did not reduce inflation, but also brought it to the peak of the last 19 years. Consumer prices increased by 13.58 percent on a monthly basis in December 2021. Annual inflation, which was 21.31 percent in November, rose to 36.08 percent in December. While domestic producer prices increased by 19.08 percent in December, the annual D-PPI rose to 79.89 percent. Economist Özgür Müftüoğlu evaluated the TÜİK figures and the economic policies of the government.

TURKSTAT HIDES INFLATION

 Explaining the main reason for the high inflation as "the impoverishment of the people whose money is stolen from their pocket, and the enrichment of those who pocket the stolen money," Müftüoğlu said that this situation becomes much clearer when evaluated together with the wage increases made to the workers and retirees well below the inflation rate. Emphasizing that the real inflation is much higher than that announced by TÜİK, Müftüoğlu evaluated the efforts of TÜİK to hide the real inflation as "an effort to cover up the robbery.”

NO TRUST IN THE ECONOMY

 Expressing that the distrust not only in TURKSTAT but also in the political power has reached its peak, Müftüoğlu said, “Even AKP members themselves do not trust the course of the economy. In order to determine this, it is necessary to look at the personal accounts and investments of those who say to the public, 'change your currency, buy TL'.”

WRONG POLICIES

 Emphasizing that it would be incomplete to evaluate the crisis as the result of AKP's irrational economic management only in the last few months, Müftüoğlu said, “The crisis that has had its burning effects today is the result of the economic policies implemented for many years. This includes, to a large extent, the support and encouragement of global actors of capitalism, and the policies implemented by the AKP in its first two terms, which some strongly affirm."

ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM REQUIRED

Pointing out that the AKP has completely disconnected from society and reality in the last period, Müftüoğlu continued as follows: “It is trying to maintain its power by increasing its authority over the society. This process is dragging Turkey into a darker place. It is essential to put an end to this and to build a new process in which democracy and law will prevail. But in order for this to happen, those who aspire to power must reassure the society that democratic channels will be opened where all segments of society can express themselves by re-establishing the law.”

ELECTIONS ARE NOT SAVIOR

Müftüoğlu said, “If people's anger does not turn into a struggle, it will not have an effect that will cause the election to be delayed or the government to take another step.” Müftüoğlu said, "There will be no benefit in sitting and waiting for salvation from the election."