site.btaTurkish Opposition Leader Praises Economies of Bulgaria and Greece, Criticizes Turkiye

The leader of Turkiye's main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel, has praised the economies of neighbouring Bulgaria and Greece while sharply criticizing Turkiye’s economic situation, the Ihlas News Agency reported.

Speaking at a CHP rally in Edirne on Saturday, Ozel compared prices in Bulgaria and Greece with those in Turkiye. He argued that the depreciation of the Turkish lira amid the country’s economic crisis has given Bulgaria and Greece greater purchasing power, making Turkiye an attractive destination for their citizens.

Ozel said that Turks travel to Greece or Bulgaria to buy meat, which is immensely expensive in Turkiye and beyond the means of the average Turk. "At the same time, Bulgarians prefer to shop in Edirne because of Turkiye’s favorable exchange rates. Food inflation in Turkiye is the highest in Europe and the third highest in the world," he added.

The Ihlas News Agency noted that this part of Ozel’s speech drew criticism from some rally participants. His comparisons of food prices, exchange rates, and purchasing power were criticized for portraying Turkiye negatively on the international stage. According to the agency, many attendees said that language they viewed as belittling the country was unacceptable.