TURKEY: Healthcare Strike & more – 7th Jan 2025

Merhaba from BA! This is the Rorshok Turkey Update from the 7th of January twenty twenty-five. A quick summary of what's going down in Turkey.

On Thursday the 2nd, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party, met with politicians from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy, or DEM, Party, including Ahmet Türk. This meeting followed the DEM Party’s visit to Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (or PKK), where he expressed readiness to disband the PKK, responsible for attacks on Turkey since the snineteen eighties.

Türk, commenting on the meeting, expressed surprise at Bahçeli’s willingness to meet with DEM Party leaders, given his history of hostility toward them. This shift in Bahçeli's ultranationalist rhetoric has raised suspicions, with many critics viewing it as a calculated move to win Kurdish support for his ally Erdoğan ahead of the upcoming election.

Next up, Hekimsen, a union representing healthcare workers in Turkey, announced a nationwide strike from Monday the 6th to Wednesday the 8th to protest poor working conditions and low wages. The strike involves family health center staff, public dentists, and physicians, with only emergency cases being treated during this period.

Family doctors seek better integration between the Public Health Management System and clinic software, as the lack of synchronization forces them to manually transfer data, leading to inefficiencies and added workload. They also demand fairer incentive payments and revised on-call rules. Dentists demand higher wages, improved infrastructure, and changes to appointment systems for long treatments. However, pharmacies will remain open nationwide.

More on health… On Thursday the 2nd, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ordered a recall of the Birşah milk after discovering that some batches contained only water. Danone, the producer, stated that a technical issue led to around 100 liters of water being mistakenly packaged as milk. The company emphasized that the incident posed no health risk.

Following the discovery, the ministry launched an investigation and inspected the facility. Danone said that they removed the affected products from stores, and assured the public that they’ve taken measures to prevent a recurrence. The company also encouraged consumers to contact them if they had purchased affected products from the 176.L batch.

Meanwhile, on Sunday the 5th, the Justice Ministry launched an investigation into Tanju Özcan, the mayor of the northwestern city of Bolu, from the main opposition, the Republican People’s Party or CHP, after he admitted to unlawfully implementing anti-refugee policies.

The day before, Özcan said in an interview that he removed Arabic signs, canceled business licenses, and refused municipal aid to refugees, acknowledging these actions violated the law. He admitted raising water and wedding fees for refugees, knowing the measures would be overturned in court.

Known for his anti-refugee rhetoric, the CHP expelled Özcan in twenty twenty-two for sexist remarks but reinstated him ahead of the twenty twenty-four elections. Despite criticism, Özcan secured over 52% of the vote in last year’s local elections.

On to international relations… On Thursday the 2nd, Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister, emphasized Turkey’s support for minority groups in Syria, including Nusayris, Alawites, Yazidis, and Christians, amid ongoing instability in the region. He described Turkey as a "protector" of oppressed communities regardless of ethnicity or faith.

Fidan highlighted the country’s focus on addressing threats from Kurdish factions tied to the PKK, which Turkey, the United States, and the European Union consider a terrorist organization. He noted that Syria’s new administration shares similar concerns about the PKK.

In some economic news, on Friday the 3rd, the government announced a 15% pension increase for retirees, excluding former civil servants. The lowest pension will rise to 14,500 liras, which is about 410 US Dollars, still below the hunger threshold for a family of four of 21,000 liras, a little below 600 dollars. Around 3.7 million retirees receive pensions below 12,500 liras, which is 350 dollars, and most will see only modest gains.

On the other hand, civil servants and retired civil servants will receive a salary boost of 11%, raising their base salary to 43,700 liras, which is about 1,240 dollars, and their lowest pension will increase to 19,600 liras, about 555 dollars, once again falling short of the hunger threshold for a family of four.

Many believe this amount makes it difficult to get by, especially with the rising cost of living putting basic necessities further out of reach.

Still on the economy… The Electronic Funds Transfer fees for interbank money transfers increased by 45%, reflecting the twenty twenty-four inflation rate. The updated twenty twenty-five tariff, effective immediately, raises transfer fees across all banks.

For transfers up to 6,300 liras, which is 180 US Dollars, the fee rises from five liras, which is thirteen US cents, to a little over six liras, around twenty US cents.

Transfers between 6,300 liras and 304,800 liras - that is, between eighteen US cents and 8,600 dollars - will now incur a fee of thirteen liras, which is thirty-seven US cents, up from nine liras, which is twenty-five US cents.

Transactions over 304,800 liras will cost 160 liras, which around four US Dollars.

These changes apply to all banks.

On Wednesday the 1st, authorities launched an operation targeting irregularities at the state-funded Yunus Emre Institute, which promotes the Turkish language and culture globally. In late December, the Directorate General of Foundations filed a criminal complaint over irregularities at the Institute. The investigation, which began in July twenty twenty-four after the dismissal of former president Şeref Ateş, uncovered alleged corruption.

Ateş, who reportedly fled to Germany, faces charges including embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering. Authorities detained eighteen individuals, froze their assets, and scrutinized fraudulent transactions amounting to up to seventeen million dollars.

Switching to another courtroom battle, on Saturday the 4th, the police detained Murat Övüç, a social media influencer known for his flamboyant persona and drag-style performances, after he shared a video of himself wearing a headscarf on a flight. In the video, he said, “Whatever I wear, it suits me,” which sparked controversy, as his headscarf choice offended religiously sensitive viewers.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation, accusing him of insulting religious values. Övüç’s bold style and provocative content often divide opinions, drawing both support and criticism. This incident highlighted the tension between personal expression and social norms in Turkey—where a headscarf might just be a fashion statement, but not everyone sees it that way.

On another note, on Sunday the 5th, the Center for Combating Disinformation addressed false allegations. According to these allegations, holders of Turkish green and gray passports, which are issued to public servants and those on official business, would need to pay seven euros (a bit over seven dollars) and obtain a pre-approval visa through the European Travel Information and Authorization System or ETIAS for Schengen travel.

These individuals normally travel visa-free to Schengen countries. The Schengen Area, comprising twenty-seven European countries with open borders, allows seamless travel without passport checks.

The center clarified that Turkey is not on the ETIAS list, so holders of gray and green passports don’t need to obtain electronic pre-approval. Later on Monday the 6th, the European Union also confirmed this.

The northwestern Çanakkale Municipality launched a subscription system for student public transportation, offering 30% discounted options valid on black-plate municipal buses. Prices are 630 liras, which is twenty-three US Dollars, for sixty rides, 315 liras or twelve dollars, for thirty rides, and 105 liras, (four dollars) for ten rides.

Subscriptions are valid for one month from the loading date, and students can use their existing student cards. The municipality won’t give refunds for lost or damaged cards. Future fare increases won’t affect loaded subscriptions, and the 30% discount will apply to new rates.

And to wrap up this edition, on Monday the 6th, Turkey marked the 98th anniversary of the National Intelligence Organization (or MİT), founded in nineteen twenty-seven under the directive of Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. MİT traces its roots to the Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa, Turkey's first modern intelligence agency, created in nineteen thirteen.

Initially called the National Security Service, it played a key role in diplomatic efforts, including the annexation of the city of Hatay in nineteen thirty-nine. Over time, MİT adapted to global changes. It expanded its operations, with a focus on cyber intelligence, starting in twenty twenty-one, and marked a new chapter in twenty twenty-three with the founding of the National Intelligence Academy.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

Thanks for sticking around for this episode of the Rorshok Turkey Update! Thank you for your support, shares, and feedback. Got ideas, suggestions, or just want to say hi? Just drop us a line at info@rorshok.com.

Here’s to another year of keeping you on the loop with what's going down in Turkey. Happy twenty twenty-five!

Hoşça kalın!