Arıklı: Don’t Put Social Insurance at Risk for 3-5 Votes

Arıklı said the real issue was not distributing TL40,000 today, but ensuring that Social Insurance would be able to sustainably pay pension benefits in the future.

Arıklı, who is also a former Minister of Public Works and Transport, criticized the government’s decision to give Social Insurance pensioners a TL40,000 bonus, arguing that the measure could disrupt the institution’s actuarial balance.

In a social media post, Arıklı referred to a statement by National Unity Party (UBP) Secretary-General Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, who said, “In the 50th year of Social Insurance, we will give each pensioner a TL40,000 bonus. We will have TL19 billion, and we will distribute TL1.9 billion of it.”

Arıklı said the situation of Social Insurance pensioners was “truly heartbreaking” and that he would support higher payments if resources were available. He also argued that restoring coverage for certain healthcare expenses that he said had recently been denied on the grounds of “abuse” would be more beneficial to pensioners.

Recalling the “We Have Money, So Let’s Distribute It” Approach

Arıklı said the phrase “We have money. So let’s distribute it” reminded him of a period in the past.

He said that in 2024, large revenues had been transferred from the Land Registry Department to the Finance Ministry, creating a budget surplus. Arıklı recalled that a fellow minister had said at the time, “We have money. Let’s pay cost-of-living allowances three times instead of twice this year. Let the markets come alive. We would gain tremendous prestige.”

Arıklı said he had opposed the proposal, noting that the construction sector, which had revived following the Annan Plan, had increased the Finance Ministry’s revenues, but that this source of income later dried up.

He said he had warned the government at the time to calculate the burden that paying the cost-of-living allowance three times instead of twice would place on the Finance Ministry in subsequent years, but that his warning had not been taken into account.

“There was money. We paid the cost-of-living allowance three times instead of twice,” Arıklı said, arguing that the flow of revenue from the Land Registry Department to the Finance Ministry was subsequently cut off after legislation restricting property sales to foreigners was introduced, leaving the Finance Ministry in financial difficulty within a short period.

“Now we borrow TL3-4 billion every month to pay those salaries,” Arıklı said.

“Don’t Put Social Insurance in the Same Situation as Finance Ministry for 3-5 Votes”

Arıklı said the actuarial balance of Social Insurance had been “barely established” and warned that the institution should not be allowed to fall into a similar situation.

“By no means put Social Insurance in the same situation as the Finance Ministry for three or five votes,” Arıklı said.

He added that the government should benefit from the experience of former Minister of Labour and Social Security Hasan Taçoy.

“One of the people who knows this best is dear Taçoy. He served as minister. He knows the balances well. Listen to him,” Arıklı said.

Arıklı argued that the payment to Social Insurance pensioners should not be assessed solely in terms of the TL40,000 to be distributed today, stressing that the key issue was ensuring that Social Insurance could continue paying pension benefits sustainably in the future.

“The issue is not distributing TL40,000 today. The issue is whether Social Insurance will be able to pay pension benefits sustainably tomorrow,” Arıklı said.