Erdogan Accuses Opposition of Stoking Panic Buying in Sunflower Oil as Prices Surge 50%

LOCAL NEWS

• Erdogan accuses opposition of stoking fears over cooking oil shortages, saying there was no such shortage. A 50% rise in the price of sunflower oil prompted mass buying over the weekend.
  • Erdogan also blamed suppliers for stockpiling and urged price controls and punishment for those caught stockpiling. Turkey’s Agri Min said supplies were sufficient in Turkey over the weekend – Ahval
• Erdogan blasts doctors claiming underpayment in recent protests, saying they can leave their positions in the public sector if need be and that that were not irreplaceable.
  • Says their pay of TRY 8-9k was well above the national minimum wage of TRY 4,250 and that Turkey would employ graduate doctors if need be. Turkish Medical Association has been calling for a 150% increase to offset inflation – T24 News
• Turkish & Russian Defence Ministers held a phone call yesterday to discuss Ukraine ahead of a joint meeting with FM Lavrov & Kuleba in Antalya tomorrow. Cavusoglu said on Monday that the meeting with take place in the tripartite format and hoped that the meeting would mark a “turning point” in the conflict – Ahval
• DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan said the six opposition party leaders who created a roadmap for a “strengthened parliamentary system” will hold a third meeting on March 27. - Cumhirriyet
• Erdogan said he opposes Russia sanctions and Ukraine occupation in an AKP meeting. “I told Putin that the war and this occupation are wrong, I said the points that we don’t find right. We are against both sanctions and occupation,” - Hurriyet