Popular anger simmers in Turkey over ballooning electricity bills
Electricity bills have doubled and even tripled in Turkey after massive price hikes, fueling frustration with Erdogan’s economic management.
ISTANBUL, Turkey – A wave of protests has spread across Turkey over whopping electricity price hikes last month as millions struggle to pay the ballooning bills and many businesses face the threat of going broke amid already galloping inflation.
The hikes of up to 127 percent came atop other sharp price increases, aggravating the economic woes of ordinary citizens and businesses alike. Annual consumer inflation hit a two-decade high of 48.7 percent in January, while producer inflation climbed to 93.5 percent. With its poll numbers already sagging ahead of elections next year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has come under growing pressure to review the electricity hikes.
