Turgay Deniz: Government's Only Responsibility Should Not Be Paying Civil Servants' Salaries

Speaking on Kıbrıs Postası TV’s Sabah Postası programme, Deniz said, “The only responsibility of the government shouldn’t be paying public servants. The real antidote to inflation is raising the public’s standard of living.”

He noted that the public financial structure is barely capable of covering wages, pensions, and salaries of workers dependent on the state. “Have you ever heard of the Ministry of Finance building a school or hospital?” he asked.

Deniz also warned about the economic impact of the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict, stating, “War benefits no one. Cyprus is not too far from the region, and there are claims that support from British bases on the island could draw Iranian missiles toward us.”

Highlighting the potential repercussions on the tourism sector, he said, “We’re a tourism destination. People don’t choose to vacation in places associated with danger or problems. This war looks set to continue, and we will definitely feel its impact on our tourism.”

He added that fuel prices could rise due to supply disruptions or increased logistical costs, remarking, “Oil will become harder to obtain or more expensive. Prices will rise. We’ve talked about this before. During the pandemic, we called for change, created a mid-term plan—but nothing came of it. We said let’s adapt to the new world, but we’ve done nothing. We’re at the mercy of the wind.”

Deniz criticised the lack of forward-looking policy, saying, “There’s a failure to sit down and assess the next 3 to 5 years. Everything is managed day by day. There was a fire in Esentepe and I told people, ‘We might as well start praying for rain.’ That’s the level we’re at—our economy is left to fate, just like the fires.”

He also questioned the proper use of public funds: “We have shelters, but the shelter fund was handed over to the Ministry of Finance and the money disappeared. We pay vehicle registration fees that are meant for roads and lighting, but where are those services? Where’s the money from transformer contribution fees?”

Deniz called for serious fiscal reform and greater responsibility from the government, stating, “We need to confront the rising cost of living and the growing anxiety among our youth. The root of all this is our public finances. As long as there’s no discipline and no austerity measures, we’ll keep facing the same issues.”

He concluded, “Governments can’t just be focused on paying salaries. The state’s core duties include security—covered by Turkey’s resources—education, and healthcare. But even these areas are questionable. I feel sorry for our civil servants. We pay out this money, but what do we get in return? What’s being produced for public welfare? Parliament is consumed by petty quarrels. So what happens to us?”