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Turkish election pledges belie serious economic problems

Both the ruling party and the opposition have pledged various incentives and social welfare benefits ahead of next month's vote.
A man walks in front of the portraits of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and founder of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (L), on May 11, 2018 at Emininonu district in Istanbul. - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called snap elections in Turkey for June 24, bringing the polls forward by over a year and a half after a call from his main nationalist ally on April 18, 2018. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)        (Photo credit should read OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images)
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The pledges Turkish politicians are making to voters ahead of the June 24 presidential and parliamentary polls have come to resemble an auction.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) started with enacting a 24 billion lira ($5.6 billion) incentives package, which bears directly or indirectly on almost the entire population. In addition, the government plans to spend 38 billion liras on various social welfare benefits this year.

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