Turkey’s Democracy Crisis: ‘Pensioners Get 213% Raise, Bridge Tolls Jump 534%’

As world leaders gather for the NATO summit, a top opposition figure in Turkey warns that the country is facing a democracy and rule-of-law crisis at home. Özgür Özel, a prominent politician, highlighted the government’s policy choices by comparing two recent price increases. He noted that while the minimum pension was raised by 213 percent, the fee for crossing a major bridge surged by 534 percent. “This table is a summary of the government’s priorities,” Özel said. His comments come as international attention focuses on Turkey’s role in global security, even as domestic tensions rise over economic fairness and legal standards.