The Parliament is at the service of the Palace, not the nation.

The influence of the Turkish Grand National Assembly gradually diminished after the transition to a presidential system of government on July 9, 2018. The parliament largely worked to "approve the government's controversial regulations and international agreements." Numerous critical debates and bills addressing citizens' demands were rejected by the AKP and its partner, the MHP.

The report card of the 28th Term, 3rd Legislative Year of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which ended on July 20, 2025, revealed the legitimacy of the criticism that “the Parliament is being made to work against the citizens.”

GOOD NEWS FROM THE PALACE

Seven international agreements were approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly during the 28th Term, the third legislative year. During the legislative year, 32 bills, most of which were introduced a month before the recess, were approved and enacted. The budget marathon, which began with Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz's presentation to the Planning and Budget Committee on October 22, concluded on December 21.

The 2025 budget, approved by the AKP and MHP despite opposition objections, was also criticized for failing to address public concerns. The budget increases for public administrations within the general budget also mirrored the government's choices that disregard the public. While the government projected a 42 percent increase for the Directorate of Religious Affairs, it also projected only a 35 percent increase for the Youth Ministry, a 22 percent increase for the Family Ministry, and a mere 33 percent increase for the Ministry of National Education. 14 percent of the 2025 budget was allocated to interest rates.

The AKP, which complained about interest payments in 2002, paid 600 billion dollars in interest in 22 years.

POCKET MONEY FOR RETIREMENT

Parliament also failed to meet the expectations of millions of retirees. The retirement holiday bonus, which was set at 3,000 TL in 2024, was increased by only 1,000 TL to 4,000 TL for 2025. Meanwhile, the Turkish Grand National Assembly also passed a proposal from the AKP that would raise the minimum pension by only 16.6% to 16,881 TL.

Plunder Regulations

• Climate Law Proposal:

The proposal, which has become law, does not include provisions to address the social, economic, or ecological dimensions of the climate crisis. The opposition describes the proposal, which includes only regulations based on carbon trading mechanisms, as "market-driven."

• Teaching Profession Law:

The Teachers' Profession Law, which the opposition claims was "drafted in the Palace," is being criticized for "damaging the reputation of the teaching profession." It's argued that the law paves the way for discrimination in teacher employment. Meanwhile, it's argued that the "career ladders in teaching" introduced by the law will disrupt labor peace in education. The law prevents graduates of education faculties or departments "approved by the Ministry of National Education" from directly starting their careers. After graduation, teachers are expected to undergo two years of training at the National Education Academy as "candidate teachers."

• Execution regulation (Judicial Package):

The regulation, which fails to meet public expectations, contains numerous articles unconstitutional. Criticized for serving the AKP's dream of a "Turkey without opposition," the regulation, which offers prison terms for "unjustifiable crimes," paves the way for "anyone who opposes the government to be sent to prison on fabricated charges."

HARD WORKING CONDITIONS

• Amendment to Labor Law No. 4857:

Workers working at accommodation facilities certified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are being stripped of their right to one day off per week. Tourism workers, who were previously entitled to one day off after six days of work, are now allowed to take one day off after 10 consecutive days of work.

SUPER POWERS FOR ERDOĞAN

• Bill on Amendments to the Civil Servants Law and Certain Laws and Decree Laws:

• With the proposal passed into law with the votes of AKP and MHP, the authority to determine the tax and monetary limits of tax-free vehicles of disabled people is transferred to the President.

• Another authority given to President Erdoğan includes “determining the rank determination period of TSK personnel.”

Broad Authority for the Directorate of Religious Affairs

The omnibus law passed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly grants the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) broad new powers. The law provides the legal basis for the Presidency to conduct religious activities in schools, dormitories, and hospitals, within the scope of the law.

Exemption to TRT

Another noteworthy development is the proposed law exempting TRT-affiliated companies from the Public Procurement Law, which the Constitutional Court annulled on the grounds that it "could lead to corruption." The article is generating controversy because it claims it will "evade companies from audits." Furthermore, it paves the way for the TRT General Manager to be paid the highest salary of a civil servant.

WAR WITH OLIVE TREES

The omnibus bill, which paves the way for the plundering of olive trees and has been described as a "super- plunder permit for capital," stands out as the most controversial regulation. The proposal allows olive groves to be opened to mining and allows mining to begin before the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

THERE IS NO PEOPLE ON THE AGENDA

In the Turkish Grand National Assembly, where regulations hostile to humans, nature, and animals were passed, citizens' demands were ignored. All of the opposition's demands for public benefit, including one free meal for students, were rejected by the AKP and MHP. Here are some of the proposals on which AKP and MHP deputies voted "No":

• Minimum wage of at least 35 thousand TL.

• One free meal for students in schools.

• Deletion of interest on farmers' loan debts.

• Public banks provide interest-free loans to farmers.

• The lowest retirement pension should be at least the minimum wage level.

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Opposition proposals rejected

The "28th term report card," announced by CHP Deputy Group Chairman Gökhan Günaydın, also revealed a striking picture. Günaydın stated that since June 12, 2023, the CHP has submitted 774 bills, the DEM Party 331, the İYİ Party 114, and the Yeni Yol Group 83. Günaydın emphasized that none of the opposition's bills have become law.