ISTANBUL, (Reuters) – Turkey’s opposition leader stated late Wednesday that he would not pay electricity bills until President Tayyip Erdoan withdraws the recent price rises. This comes amid growing discontent about rising inflation.

The currency crash last year caused by Erdogan’s unusually low interest rate policy (which raised the living cost for Turks already in financial difficulties) brought inflation to almost 50%.

The government responded by raising the minimum wage to 50% and increasing the price of petrol, power, and tolls in order to compensate for fluctuations in import prices.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu of Republican People’s Party (CHP), stated overnight that “I will not be paying any electricity bills starting today, until Erdogan withdraws price rises which he signed Dec 31,”.

Kilicdaroglu, who released a video on Twitter (NYSE.:), also called for a decrease in the value added tax on power bills from 18% to 1%.

At the start of January, electricity prices rose by up to 125% for commercial customers in high demand and around 50% for households with lower demands.

Kilicdaroglu made the announcement after shopkeepers, councils of cities and religious communities spoke out about rising energy costs.

Notices were posted on restaurant windows by some owners to raise awareness about ballooning electricity prices, as social media posts indicated. Meanwhile, Turkey’s Alevi religious minority chose not to pay their cemevis (or power) bills.

Erdogan has seen his opinion ratings plummet due to record currency losses and the soaring price of oil. Erdogan is scheduled to vote in June 2023. According to government statements, the country will weather inflation by increasing credit and investing in exports as well as investment.

Ibrahim Kalin (Presidential Spokesperson) said this week that the new measures on power bills will be made public “very soon”.