Turkish President Abdullah Gul has vetoed a law endorsed by the Parliament to increase pensions of deputies, citing "uneasiness in public conscience" for such a move.
Parliament has been receiving huge criticism for its increase of pensions for deputies, and particularly for its quickness in pushing through this change at midnight, in an apparent move to avoid public scrutiny.
The main parties in Parliament approved new pension increments for deputies last Thursday night, tying the raises to a percentage of the president’s allowance. The pensions for deputies were increased from TL 5,300 to TL 7,700 per month, for which all deputies are eligible after four years of service.
In addition, if a deputy remains jobless after having served in Parliament, their insurance premiums will be paid by Parliament. If they do not meet the age and premium requirements after four years of financial support from Parliament, they will have to pay the premiums themselves.
The new pension increments for deputies have led to controversy, with many, including some retired deputies, opposing the move on the grounds that they are too high when compared to the increments in the minimum wage and those made for other pensioners.
The Parliament will either again discuss and amend the bill, or will directly send the bill to the president for approval.
On Thursday, following a meeting of Central Executive Committee (MYK) of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the ruling party deputy chairman Huseyin Celik told a news conference that it is up to the Parliament to decide whether or not amend the bill but he said the president’s "sensitivities in this bill is important" and that he thinks deputies will take this into consideration.
Leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu told reporters Thursday night that "he is very delighted" over the president’s veto and thanked Gul for his decision. Despite several votes in favor of the bill from the CHP, the opposition party was against the bill.