CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu ‘won’t pay his electricity bill until price hikes are withdrawn’

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Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the high electricity bills by posting a video on social media.

Speaking to the public in a video yesterday evening (February 9), the main opposition leader addressed President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: 

"Until he withdraws the price hikes that he signed on December 31, 2021, I will not pay any electricity bill that I will receive as of today."

In the introduction to his video, CHP's Kılıçdaroğlu first "clarified why all these are happening to us" and moved on to share his recommendations.

'The same story lies at the root of problems'

"The same story lies at the root of all these incidents," he said, recalling that when the privatizations in the field of electricity are closely observed, "very familiar names" are seen. "Erdoğan put the gang of five in there, too," argued Kılıçdaroğlu, referring to five pro-government conglomerates receiving major tenders from the government over the past two decades.

Kılıçdaroğlu explained: "What did this gang do? They stole it all. This robbery is a long story. We may talk about it if they want it too much, but the real question is this: What is done with this money?"

CLICK - How Turkey's electricity distribution companies make excessive profits

Referring to his previous video where he mentioned "tens of thousands of trolls" following and troubling him on social media, he said:

"I talked about the financed pro-government media. I talked about the parallel structures disguised as education foundations. I talked about palace life. This is exactly where your money is spent, my people.

"It was also the case in the past, but there is now a difference: They now have to take everything you have very quickly. That is why they have been pushing you so aggressively. The vault is at minus."

'Reduce the VAT to 1 percent'

Referring to the city-wide days-long power cut in Isparta province following heavy snowfall, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Isparta froze for days, they could not give electricity to the entire city. Look at which gangs are there. While these gangs did not prepare the infrastructure for winter, they did not open the roads leading to Isparta, either, as these roads also belong to them."

Moving on to offer his recommendations, Kılıçdaroğlu said that the Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity bills should be reduced to 1 percent, which would mean a 50-lira decrease in a 350-lira electricity bill.

Criticizing Erdoğan further, he recalled that he gave citizens an IBAN for a fundraising campaign in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu called on everyone to post their electricity bills along with their IBANs on Twitter by mentioning President and ruling AKP Chair Erdoğan under the hashtag #SıraSende (It is your turn): "Because it is now his turn. Let's see what the gentleman will do when you send him an IBAN. Let's see whether he will run to your help."

Addressing the municipalities in concluding his remarks, Kılıçdaroğlu urged them to be on the side of citizens with their campaigns of "Bill on the Hook", which enables citizens to pay for other citizens' bills without knowing whose bill they pay for: "Let's be on the side of these families. Otherwise, may God forbid, we may face starvations this winter." (TP/SD)