Mayors Warn Financial Burden On Municipalities is Becoming 'Too Much to Bear'

LOCAL NEWS

• Turkish opposition mayors say the financial burden of the economic crisis on municipalities is too much to bear due to spiralling inflation, warning of risks to central government and service delivery to citizens.
  • Mayors said Government has ignored their joint proposals to alleviate inflation pressures, especially in public transport-related materials. Their primary demand is that municipalities be exempt from VAT and receive a discount on electricity
• Netherlands adds Turkey to its high risk’ covid travel list amid a steep rise in Omicron cases, reimposing quarantine for travelers for non-boosted citizens, but PCR tests will be needed for all travellers.
  • Turkey reported 96,516 cases & 236 deaths and will hope that this wave fades ahead of the spring/summer tourist season
• CHP leader Kilicdaroglu announces his presidential bid for 2023 as he reiterates calls for immediate snap elections. “let him see me at the ballots. The people of this nation do not have the strength to wait for the (June 2023) elections”
• Healthcare workers led by the Turkish medical association (TTB) join the nationwide protest over wages and working conditions as soaring inflation continues to wreak havoc.
  • TTB is demanding a 150% increase in wages, more manageable workloads and increased security, saying “we are prepared to go on longer strikes”
• Cavusoglu says Turkey will not abandon the Palestinian cause for closer ties wit Israel ahead of President Herzog’s visit in March.
  • Cavusoglu said an improvement in Turkey-Israel ties could boost Ankara’s role in finding a two-state solution, but that Turkey would not compromise on its stance. Israel’s OM said it was “treading cautiously” on Turkey’s renewed interest in ties