Outcry Grows in Turkey Over Soaring Utility Bills

People walking in Istiklal Street in Istanbul, Turkey, 2 December 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

"Politics is for serving the citizens and solving the problems of citizens. Unfortunately, the palace [of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] forgot both the citizens and their problems. Citizens are imprisoned by poverty," Canan Kaftancioglu, chair of the CHP's Istanbul branch, said on Wednesday.

Kaftancioglu called on the government to scrap the price hikes. "The government continuously increases prices of almost everything, including electricity, gas, petroleum, taxes and fees. The high cost of living is making citizens poorer," he added.

"We are miserable," one citizen said at the CHP's protest, complaining about unaffordable utility bills.

Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Wednesday after the protests that the government is aware of public concern. "We are evaluating all the demands. We have not had a solution until now, but we are working on it and will announce when we are done," Donmez said.

In the last few days, people have taken to the streets with unorganised small protests all over the country and on social media, complaining about high utility bills and the high cost of living after their first utility bills of 2022 started to arrive, with more than 100-per-cent increases.

Celebrities, singers and people from all segments of society have joined the outcry. "A person who does not complain about the high cost of living is either a madman or a thief," Cem Yilmaz, Turkey's most famous comedian, wrote on Twitter on February 6.

Media reports show that some business owners have put plaques in their windows, showing their dramatically increased utility bills.

Türkiye'nin birçok bölgesinde elektrik...