Pointing out that the tradesmen have been weighed down by coronavirus restrictions, Sağlam said: “Despite the huge loss of income, the monthly routine expenses of the tradesmen continue in full. In order for the tradesmen to cope with this, a new regulation should be introduced for compulsory payments. In this context; fixed payments such as accrued taxes, BAĞ-KUR and SGK premiums, electricity, water, and natural gas bills should be postponed. Support for rent and loss of income should continue, tradesmen should be supported with interest-free loans, and loan debts should be postponed without interest. It is not a fair approach to tax the profits that the tradesman did not make. The continuation of these remedial steps until life returns to normal is a necessity of being a social state.”

“Turkey is not successful in fighting corruption”

Underlining that the fight against corruption in Turkey was not successful, Sağlam said, “The burden brought by the pandemic process to the current bad course of the economy has also reflected on the international economic situation. The fact that Turkey ranks fourth in the misery index, which is calculated on the basis of high unemployment and inflation rates, has shown that postponed economic problems have reached a frightening stage. On the other hand, according to the data published by the European Anti-Corruption Group (GRECO) for the period 2017-2020, there is a loss of blood in the fight against corruption because Turkey did not fulfill its obligations.”

“We are experiencing a serious economic crisis”

Stating that there is a serious economic crisis in the country, Sağlam said: “In this sense, the representatives of the society are obliged to take into account the criticisms from the society. Nowadays, when the inflation rate is hurting society, the state must confront its mistakes and act more responsibly. In this calamity faced by the people, the state should do its part in preventing waste with transparency, and should address corruption with zero tolerance.” (İLKHA)