Major Reforms in the Turkish Parliament: Pension Increase and Student Amnesty

Today, July 13, 2026, the Turkish Parliament (TBMM) begins a decisive week. After a short break due to the NATO summit held in Ankara, representatives are now faced with an intensive agenda that includes three major reforms in the economic, educational, and judicial sectors [1][3]. These proposed packages, presented by the ruling party, aim to reduce economic pressure on people's livelihoods and reform certain legal structures.

Increasing Minimum Pension to 23,552 Lira One of the most important parts of these reforms is the bill to increase the minimum pension. According to published reports, the government intends to increase the minimum pension, which was previously 20,000 Lira, to 23,552 Lira in consideration of the inflation rate [2][3]. This decision comes as the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission is scheduled to review the exact details of this 30-article plan on Tuesday, July 14. However, many pension organizations believe this figure remains below the poverty line and are calling for a more serious revision of the payment amounts [2].

Student Amnesty: A Second Chance to Return to University The second main focus of the parliament's activities this week is the review of the "Student Amnesty" plan in the National Education, Culture, and Youth Commission. This bill includes students who have dropped out or been expelled from university for various reasons [4]. According to the details of this plan, individuals who have not previously benefited from any amnesty plan can submit their request to return to their studies within four months after the law is approved and implemented [3]. This move is described as a major step toward restoring the educational rights of thousands of young Turkish citizens.

The 12th Judicial Package and Reforms in the Trial System The third pillar of these changes, known as the "12th Judicial Package," seeks to reform certain criminal and civil laws. One of the highlights of this package is addressing the situation of individuals known as "IBAN victims"; those who provided their bank accounts to others and unintentionally became accomplices in fraud. According to the new bill, the punishment for these individuals will be reduced by up to 50% if they were not directly involved in the crime [3][4]. Additionally, to speed up the trial process, it has been stipulated that the interval between court sessions must not exceed three months, and judges will be required to provide a written reason if they exceed this timeframe [2].

In addition to these matters, the parliament will host representatives from global technology giants this week, including X (formerly Twitter), Google, Meta, and TikTok, to discuss school safety and combating cyberattacks in educational environments [3]. Given the ruling party's parliamentary majority, these bills are expected to receive final approval by the end of the week.