AYDIN - Aydın citizens, stating that living conditions have become difficult and they are struggling to make ends meet, said that the budget should be allocated to women, young people and workers, not to war.
Discussions on the 2026 Central Administration Budget Bill, which began on 8 December in the General Assembly of Parliament, are continuing. In the second week of discussions, the shares of the budget allocated to various ministries will be discussed. On 18 and 19 December, the budget presented by the government to parliament will be put to a vote.
While opposition parties continue to criticise the budget for not being in favour of the people and production, the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party marched to Ankara with the demand for a "Budget for Bread and Peace". Other parties also called for the budget to be used for the people, while at the same time demanding a significant increase in the minimum wage during the ongoing negotiations.
We spoke with enlightened citizens about their demands regarding the budget negotiations.
Kadir Altaş stated during the budget discussions that workers never receive the full value of their labour. Expressing that the budget should address the public, Altaş continued by stating that they are fighting for this cause: "But I believe that parliament should also be sensitive to the budget. We are in favour of MPs focusing on this issue. We do not want this labour to go to waste."
'A SOCIAL STATE IS ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING A BUDGET TO SOCIETY'
Abdülkerim Kara, reminding that the budget has been allocated to war and violence for 50 years, pointed out that if the budget allocated to war were allocated to the people, there would be significant development. Emphasising that the budget should be for society, Kara continued: "At least 40-45 thousand TL is needed to make the minimum wage, however small, more liveable. When we do the maths, if we are educating a child, when you calculate the cost of transport and education, the reality is that even 45 thousand TL will not cover it."
'A BUDGET FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT THE PALACE'
Ruzgar Ece also stated that the 2026 budget was being transferred to the palace, noting that no budget was allocated to women, workers and labourers, and concluded: "Capital continues to feed itself. Our demand from these budget discussions is that the necessary budget be allocated to women, workers, and labourers. Budget for the people, not the palace."
Dilsah Yasar, pointing out that the minimum wage is low and rents and utility bills are high, emphasised that the minimum wage to be determined must be adequate, adding: "This nation has endured many hardships. Young people and women are the groups facing the most hardship. Life is harder for them. The government needs to take a step, but it is not doing so. Let there be peace; let the budget be allocated for peace."