KOMPAS.com – As finance minister, Albayrak’s weight embarked on two years of economic uncertainty, following slowing growth, the Covid-19 pandemic and the 45 percent drop in the Lira currency.
Launch Associated Press (AP), resignation Albayrak, who was suddenly conveyed in an unusual way on Sunday (8/11/2020) evening local time via Instagram, shocked the government.
President Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan it is often claimed that he wants to make his 42-year-old son-in-law the crown prince who will succeed him at the helm of the party.
Also read: Erdogan to Kim Jong Un, these leaders have not congratulated Biden
Albayrak resigned just one day after the President Erdogan sacking the governor of the Central Bank, and ignoring his son-in-law’s suggestions on who will fill the key position.
Albayrak claimed that the posts on Instagram were not addressed to Erdogan, “but for the community,” he said. He admitted that the decision was made due to health problems.
Albayrak’s post was followed by government silence which took up to 24 hours to respond to the statement.
Also read: France: Erdogan Announces Violence
That night, Erdogan was actually scheduled to give a speech in Kocaeli Province at the AKP Congress. He reportedly arrived late after two hours.
President Erdogan, it was written in a government press statement, accepted Albayrak’s resignation.
On Tuesday morning (10/11/2020) the Turkish government announced that the former Deputy Prime Minister, Lutfi Elvan, would fill a key position at the helm of the Ministry of Finance.
Also read: Accused of Allied with Erdogan, France Bans This Group from Activities
Political sacrifice for the successor to the throne
The latest development in Ankara is considered by the opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), as a sign of a “state crisis” raging.
Meanwhile, national television, which was monitored by the government, refused to report the chaos.
The crown prince’s behavior invited antipathy among high-ranking AKP Party officials. “Resigning in this way creates serious damage to Erdogan and the party,” said an AKP official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Also read: Two Turkish Offices Working Close to Erdogan Positively Covid-19
According to the source again, the content of Albayrak’s statement and the fact that Erdogan completely whipped up his career, was not without political costs, reports Reuters.
“Erdogan invested a lot in Berat. He even disappointed many ministers and bureaucrats, ”he said.
The AKP official acknowledged Erdogan is slowly expanding Albayrak’s powers into the realm of national security, which falls outside his scope as finance minister. “In the end, Erdogan will take him to the helm of the party.”
Also read: Erdogan: Don’t Buy French Products!
The 66-year-old Erdogan faces presidential elections in June 2023. So far he has made no hint of retiring.
However, the economic crisis and the weak exchange rate of the Lira are believed to continue to erode support for the president.
Three sources in Turkish government admit to ReutersThe political drama at the weekend took place after a closed meeting of the economic team at the Presidential Palace.
At that time, the Lira exchange rate was plummeting due to the Central Bank’s decision not to raise the benchmark interest rate from 10.25 percent in order to cut the insistent inflation rate to around 12 percent.
Also read: In a lecherous way, Erdogan calls Charlie Hebdo a jerk
Between ‘truth and lies’
Erdogan has long opposed the policy of raising the benchmark interest rate to curb inflation and rising prices for basic necessities.
At the meeting, he was told that foreign exchange reserves had decreased by as much as USD 100 billion because the central bank used it to stabilize the Lira exchange rate.
“The economy is crumbling and that this condition is entirely due to government policy has become even clear to the president,” said Refet Gurkaynak, Professor of Economics at Bilkent University, Ankara.
Also read: Charlie Hebdo Considered Hina Erdogan, Turkey Wrath
Six Turkish government officials were questioned Reuters acknowledged that Erdogan’s former finance minister Naci Agbal ran the Central Bank against Albayrak’s wishes.
“The person appointed is not a figure who can work with Albayrak, not someone who has the same economic views,” said one Turkish economic official.
Albayrak’s resignation statement, on the other hand, does not reflect political unrest in Ankara.
Also read: Erdogan criticized the French President to get the support of European leaders
However, he hinted at the tension in “difficult times like these, where good and bad are mixed, where it is very difficult to distinguish between truth and lies.”
For Wolfango Piccoli, a political analyst from the consultancy firm Teneo, said the chaos was “politically embarrassing” for Erdogan and the AKP.
According to him “Erdogan has spent a lot of political capital to open a career path for Berat within the party,” he said.
“He gave his son-in-law power and influence incomparable,” and his actions “alienated key figures in the AKP.”
– .
