Erdogan replaces head of statistics office after riot over inflation figures | Abroad

Sait Erdal Dincer’s resignation was stated in a decree published Saturday. He has to make way for Erhan Cetinkaya, vice-chairman of the Turkish banking regulator, within a year of his appointment. With the departure of Dincer, concerns about the reliability of the data from the statistical office will only increase.

TurkStat is under heavy fire for allegedly manipulating economic figures to please Erdogan. Turkey is experiencing the highest inflation rate since Erdogan took office in 2014. On an annual basis, life in Turkey became 36 percent more expensive last year. That was the highest inflation in nearly twenty years. The opposition believes that this figure has been underestimated and that the real cost of living was twice as high.

It is not the first time that Erdogan has pushed people away from economic posts. Since the summer of 2019, the president has also said goodbye to three central bank governors because of the high interest rates that they held on to to curb inflation.

Under pressure from Erdogan, interest rates in Turkey have been reduced to the current level of 14 percent since September. High interest rates are a thorn in the side of the president. Contrary to the prevailing economic theory, he believes that a higher interest rate actually leads to higher prices. Partly due to the interest rate cuts, inflation in the country rose even faster.

Not only does TurkStat have a new boss. The Minister of Justice has also been replaced. Minister Abdulhamit Gul reports that he submitted his resignation on Saturday. Erdogan then appointed his party colleague Bekir Bozdag as his successor. He has held that position before.

Turkey is under fire for its judicial independence, which, according to human rights groups, among others, is being increasingly affected.