Turkish opposition stepping up criticism of Erdoğan’s economic policies

Amira al-Sharif

The Turkish economy is close to collapse, having been suffering for a decade now. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is also running out of options to get his country out of this economic collapse.

Erdoğan unveiled an economic stimulus plan in March and said his government would gradually lift restrictions in May and June to stimulate the fragile Turkish economy.

However, economists say Turkey is in for a painful recession. This, they add, may force Turkey to resort to the International Monetary Fund, something Erdoğan rejected for years.

Leader of the Turkish Felicity Party Temel Karamollaoğlu expected his country to undergo a fierce economic crisis similar to the one it experienced at the beginning of the new century.

The government of Erdoğan will leave the economy in deplorable conditions similar to the ones prevalent when it received the helm of power in 2002, he said.

He noted that the government is no longer capable of solving Turkey’s economic problems, calling for immediate action to solve these problems.

Karamollaoğlu warned against the toll the stimulus plan would have on the Turkish people.

The inflation rate rose to 11.4% in May, up from 10.94% in April.

International reserves at the Central Bank of Turkey fell by $20 billion since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis. the Turkish government also suffers an extreme lack of funds.

Meanwhile, former Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu launched a scathing criticism of Erdoğan.

Erdoğan, he said in a recent video, is separated from his people and does not see beyond the boundaries of the presidential palace.

Davutoğlu added that the Turkish president and his regime know nothing about justice.

A few days ago, the former prime minister expected the ruling Justice and Development Party to disappear in the future due to the drop in its popularity.