Erdogan announces reduction in energy prices, increase in minimum wage

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced reduction in energy prices and an increase in minimum wage ahead of the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled to take place on May 14.

In recent months, the government has also increased spending by eliminating the retirement age for millions of people and increasing the minimum wage and pensions.

The President announced that there would be an increase in the minimum wage for workers in July and a 15% reduction in electricity prices for all subscriber groups starting from April.

He added that industrialists who use natural gas would see a 20% reduction in gas prices from April.

These new announcements come as President Erdogan faces what is being seen as the biggest challenge to his 20-year rule. The president's popularity suffered in recent years due to rising poverty and rampant inflation.