Özgür Ferhat: "Minority rights are waiting for democratic solutions"
Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat criticized the 2025 budget, stating that it fails to reflect the needs of the Rodopi and Thrace regions. In his speech during the budget discussions in Parliament, Ferhat highlighted the chronic issues faced by the region and sharply criticized the government's indifferent policies regarding minority rights, the agricultural sector, and regional development.
Key Points from Ferhat's Speech:
Minority Rights: The Key to Democracy and Justice
Ferhat emphasized the long-standing issues faced by the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, including:
Mufti Election: The right for the minority to elect its own mufti is a fundamental democratic demand that must be solved with full acceptance and respect.
Education and Foundation Rights: Improving minority schools and returning properties of foundations will not only strengthen the minority but also the region's social and economic structure.
Ferhat called for solving these issues to make Western Thrace an example of democracy, equality, and social justice, strengthening peace and solidarity among peoples.
Rodopi Farmers: The Foundation of Production is Collapsing
The agricultural sector in Rodopi and Thrace is struggling due to government neglect and the economic crisis:
Tobacco and Cotton Producers: With heavy costs, tobacco producers are abandoning their fields, and cotton and wheat producers face uncertainty about whether they will be able to produce in 2025.
Beekeepers: The impact of the climate crisis has led to a 70% drop in honey production.
Compensation: Farmers who suffered losses from natural disasters (such as the August 2023 wildfires) have not received compensation, leaving them unsupported.
Ferhat urged the government to provide the necessary support to farmers and quickly compensate for the effects of natural disasters.
Health Crisis: The Public is Left Defenseless
The insufficient health spending is directly affecting the quality of life for citizens in Rodopi:
Budget Facts: Health expenditures are 5.43%, below the European average of 7.6%. The increases shown in the budget are absorbed by debt repayment and inflation.
Collapse of Public Health System: Insufficient staff, closed operating rooms, and rising medication costs are forcing citizens to turn to the private sector.
Cancer Patients' Struggles: Cancer patients face additional costs for treatment and diagnostics, while the inadequacy of biopathology laboratories jeopardizes their lives.
Ferhat called for urgent reforms in the health sector.
Ferhat’s Call for Solidarity
Ferhat stated that the government has ignored the real needs of the people and emphasized:
"The farmers, workers, students, and citizens without access to healthcare in Rodopi must no longer be left alone. Minority rights, agricultural support, and health reforms are priorities that cannot be postponed for the future of this country. As the New Left, we will continue to stand with the people and fight for a more just future."
