A new series from Medyascope investigates the effects of Turkey’s ongoing economic crisis in cities and regions known as strongholds of support for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). In the latest edition, Medyascope journalist Ayşegül Karagöz travelled to Turkey’s Black Sea coast to talk to citizens in Rize, a city known for its tea production and for being the ancestral home of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Small business owners are struggling amidst price hikes in basic necessities and ongoing inflation. As spending by customers decreases, so do the incomes of small businesses in Rize. Tea producers in the area have appealed to the government for support, demanding state intervention.
Rize has long been known for its overwhelming support of Erdoğan and the AKP. In Turkey’s local elections in March 2024, the province selected AKP candidate Rahmi Metin as its mayor. The Islamist opposition New Welfare Party (YRP) received only 17.75% of the vote, while Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) received only 12.14% in Rize, despite historic gains across large swaths of the country. In general elections in May 2023 in which Erdoğan was reelected, the president received an overwhelming 72.29% of the vote.
“Erdoğan has kept everyone fed”
A Rize local who spoke to Medyascope defended President Erdoğan’s economic policies, saying:
“Go take a look in the cafes. Everyone is receiving a monthly salary of around 15,000-20,000 Turkish Liras. People are able to make a living through tea. In the tea fields, we can’t find locals to gather the harvest so they’ve hired Afghans and Georgians instead. Trillions are earned from tea in this city. Erdoğan has brought us to this economic level and kept everyone fed. In 1978 I bought a bus back when there wasn’t even any diesel in Turkey. It took me 35 hours to drive to Bursa.“
“Things have gotten expensive but the economy is good”
One small business owner admitted prices have risen but mentioned that some are able to survive on salaries well below Turkey’s minimum wage of 17,000 TL per month:
“Yeah, sure it’s a bit expensive but what are we supposed to do? People spend what they earn. If you live like this, 20,000-30,000 TL per month won’t suffice. But I know people surviving on 13,000 TL. Thanks be to God, our lives are good.”
“Erdogan is dealing with the entire world”
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One small business owner accepted that Turkey is facing major economic problems but defended the president, saying:
“Yes, there’s a few issues in Turkey but everything can’t always be perfect. Do you know what powers we have to deal with? Despite the PKK, PYD, etc Turkey stands strong. Thanks be to God we have Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who is capable of dealing with these threats. We haven’t experienced any famines. The economy is good, and will continue to get better. Our opposition keeps punching us from behind.”
Another citizen expressed different views, saying that the end of the AKP is near:
“When the time comes everyone will pay the penalty for what they’ve done. The public has been suffering while they have been filling their pockets. If anything happens they will just leave the country and escape.”
“Rize is the symbol of Turkey”
One citizen took aim at Turkey’s so-called ‘Gang of Five’, a term used by the opposition to refer to a group of five companies known for their close ties to the AKP government:
“The government should stop giving all the opportunities to the Gang of Five and allow the economy to recover. We’ll have to wait and see whether these types of changes are possible. But no one should use Rize as their base or hold it up as an example. Rize is a symbol of Turkey just like the Kaaba is the symbol of Mecca. But how are people supposed to get by on just 10,000 TL per month?”
Many in the opposition, in particular former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, have criticized the ‘gang of five’ for constantly receiving construction tenders from the Erdoğan government and alleged corruption in the awarding of these tenders.
“Rize’s old mentality is finished”
A citizen sitting in a cafe criticized the price of tea, which has reached 10 TL per cup:
“We elected a CHP representative who will work in the interest of those in Rize. The old mentality here is finished. The AKP is finished and the nation has finally come to grips with reality. The AKP rallies these days are lightly attended. The party is able to serve itself but not retirees, workers, or producers. I cannot accept this type of mindset.”
“The opposition doesn’t have a magic wand”
Another citizen criticized those who level accusations against the AKP government, saying that the opposition also did not hold all the solutions to Turkey’s economic problems:
“Does the opposition have a magic wand? We always criticize the government but does anyone have a solution? We’ve seen over the past three years what the opposition does when they control municipalities. When we elect someone different, will our economic problems disappear the following day? I doubt it. In order to solve these problems we need to make a significant effort. There’s an election in 2028. If we can’t solve our problems until then, we will elect someone new. Turkish politics can change overnight.”
Original story by: Ayşegül Karagöz
Translated by: Leo Kendrick
