A Month’s Vacation Is Enough For Parliament

Speaking at the AKP parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Erdogan made reference to the May 19 celebration of Ataturk Commemoration, Youth and Sports Day and said Turkey would rise to its feet as it had in 1919. He added that the AKP was working day and night with the country to solve its problems.

Erdogan said that in order for Turkey to get back on its feet, parliament must complete a large amount of work and that its annual three-month vacation would not become a reality this year, commenting on the levity and visiting that goes on among deputies.

Pointing out that parliament was experiencing a period of increased activity, Erdogan said that following work on the Labor Law, which is scheduled to be passed by the end of the week, a regulation involving loans to villagers would be brought on to parliament’s agenda.

The prime minister said a law currently under consideration that would encourage foreign investment in Turkey and that would have important ramifications for the economy had already passed through the Planning and Budget Committee. He also predicted an easing of the situation in cities with a per capita income of less than $1,500 and stressed that his goal was the happiness of Turkey’s 67 million people. Pointing out that a "well-intentioned struggle" remained to be waged, Erdogan said: "That struggle is not enough. We must work, we must work, we must work. And of course that is not enough. It’s summertime now. With the arrival of summer, my colleagues and I might be expecting a vacation on July 1. Friends, we have a lot of work to do; therefore, we won’t close down for a vacation on July 1. We have a lot of steps to take. Our life is a holiday, anyway. From now on it’s produce, produce, produce. There are laws to be passed. I think a one-month vacation will be enough for parliament. I believe that these beneficial services will be remembered with gratitude by future generations."