Politics of Turkey

The combined profit of Turkish banks increased by 44.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024 from a year ago to 153.5 billion Turkish Liras ($4.8 billion).

Assets of lenders grew by 9.9 percent, or by 2.3 trillion liras, from the end of 2023 to reach 25.87 trillion liras, the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) said.

Expenditures of domestic travelers amounted to 229.8 billion Turkish Liras last year, rising 101 percent from 2022, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) have shown.

Individual expenditures increased by 102 percent to more than 209 billion liras, while package tour expenditures were up 92 percent to 20.7 billion liras, the statistics authority said on April 24.

Türkiye's 12-month cumulative current account deficit probably shrank further in February, according to Trade Minister Ömer Bolat.

"When the data for February is released, we will see the annualized current account deficit decline to around $32 billion," Bolat said.

A comprehensive omnibus bill, encompassing more than 60 amendments, was published in Türkiye's Official Gazette on March 12.

The legislation, widely known as the "judicial package," entered discussions on Feb. 20 after being submitted to the parliamentary presidency earlier in the month.

Greek diplomacy clearly did not handle the Fredi Beleri case well. Its contradictory messages and moves didn't help. With such matters, it is important to decide on the approach from the onset.

Türkiye's foreign trade in the Turkish Lira increased by 39.4 percent in January-February 2024 from the same period of last year to reach 207.7 billion liras ($6.6 billion).

Turkish lawmakers are currently deliberating a new omnibus bill encompassing more than 60 amendments, including the reinstatement of a regulation regarding crimes committed on behalf of an organization without membership, which was previously annulled by the Constitutional Court.

Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan reiterated his country's determination to defend its "Blue Homeland" from the Aegean to the Eastern Mediterranean, stressing that Ankara has not "changed its axis," but has created its own, which he called the "axis of Turkey."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed optimism about Türkiye's economic performance, revealing that international capital inflows have surged and the country's total reserves have surpassed $145 billion.

The Turkish Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday gave the green light for Sweden's NATO membership.

Following the approval at the committee on Dec. 26, the protocol will now be submitted to the general assembly for a vote. Simple majority of the 600 lawmakers will suffice for the ratification of the bid.