University students protested the transportation increase in Edirne

University students protested the transportation increase in Edirne

Reaction from university students to the 37 percent increase in transportation

EDIRNE – Gathering in front of the historical city hall in Edirne, Trakya University students protested the 37 percent increase in public transportation fees.

Trakya University students gathered in front of Edirne Municipality and opened banners saying “ETUS increase should be withdrawn”. Making a statement on behalf of the group, Trakya University Student Azra Demirarslan reminded Mayor Filiz Gencan Akın’s 20 percent discount promise to students before the March 31 local elections.

Demirarslan, who stated that instead of a discount, a 37 percent increase was made, said, “We have no money in our pockets. This 37 percent increase will not remain like this, it will constantly increase. They are trying to get us used to this. We will never get used to this.”

Demirarslan stated that it is hypocritical to give a 37 percent increase while free education and free transportation are being talked about, and stated that they want the increase to be withdrawn. Emphasizing that they were promised that they would not give a raise, Demirarslan claimed that this was a lie.

Stating that they started a signature campaign to withdraw the public transportation increases, Demirarslan said that the increases will be made in the future and that they will not give up the fight.

Following the statement, university students chanted slogans such as ‘Qualified free transportation’ and ‘Withdraw the raises immediately’ and left the signatures they collected to the municipality.

In the June ordinary meeting of the Edirne Municipality Council, a 37 percent increase was made to the city transportation by a majority vote, and after the increase, the boarding fee for students increased from 11 lira 90 kuruş to 16 lira 30 kuruş, and the full fee increased from 16 lira 80 kuruş to 23 lira.