MHP lawmaker’s family business reaps millions in public tenders while advising struggling retirees to ‘find extra work’

Since 2018, the family business of government-ally MHP deputy Ramazan Kaşlı earned five million liras in public tenders from AKP municipalities. However, he recently drew ire by urging retirees struggling to make ends meet to secure additional work rather than solely "relying on the government."

Thursday March 28 2024 11:10 pm

Duvar English

The Kaşlılar Retailing and Marketing Company linked to Ramazan Kaşlı, a deputy from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has been awarded multiple lucrative contracts from municipalities governed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), according to reporting by the daily Sözcü on March 28.

The MHP and AKP have been in cahoots since the 2018 elections, which saw Kaşlı entering Turkey’s parliament on behalf of the central province of Aksaray.

Ever since, Kaşlı’s family business received tenders worth approximately 5 million liras from AKP’s Nevşehir Municipality, Kayseri’s AKP’s Melikgazi Municipality and Kırşehir Municipality.

The tenders were predominately concerned with supplying work clothes and shoes to municipal employees.

Following Kaşlı’s reelection in May 2023, the lawmaker only took the floor three times in Turkey’s parliament.

However, the MP recently drew ire by urging retirees struggling to make ends meet to secure additional work rather than solely "relying on the government" during a public broadcast.

Admits a widening economic crisis, Turkey’s elderly are grappling with increasing poverty rates, official figures released on March 27 show.

The country’s lowest pension currently stands at approximately 10,444 liras ($323), falling below Turkey’s hunger threshold of around 20,098 liras ($618) and the minimum wage of 17,002 liras ($525).

(English version by Wouter Massink)