Politics of Turkey

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci has backed President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s recent call for a cut in interest rates, saying the current rates imposed by the Central Bank are unreasonable while speaking at a press conference late Jan. 16.

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an held a private meeting with ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members in the absence of the prime minister, during which he dished out harsh criticism about the party?s current policies.

I have been hearing two seemingly contradictory tales about Turkey?s transformation lately. One ends with the ruling Justice and Development Party?s (AKP) election victory in 2002, while the other begins with it. Both are wrong. Turkish history is one continuum, if you ask me. Without President Turgut Özal?s legacy pre-2002, we would not have had President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an post-2002.

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has reiterated his long-established criticism of Turkey's Central Bank for not reducing interest rates despite a sharp decrease in oil prices, vowing to question the Bank's governor on the issue in person.

Government officials have held intensified meetings with Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputies over unrest in the southeastern district of Cizre, which has risen sharply with the recent killings of youngsters, allegedly by the police.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an lashed out at Charlie Hebdo for its "provocative" publications about Islam on Jan. 16, saying the French satirical weekly "incited hatred and racism."
      
"This magazine [is] notorious for its provocative publications about Muslims, about Christians, about everyone," Erdo?an told a meeting of businessmen in Ankara.
     

Turkey has witnessed yet another huge wave of mass purges in the judiciary, with the government replacing almost 1,000 judges and prosecutors, raising more and more question marks over the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) motives in the latest restructuring of the country's top judicial body.

This year will see stronger economic growth and lower inflation than 2014, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, who is responsible for the economy, predicted on Jan. 16.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Babacan said 2015 will be a better year than 2014 for the country's economy.

Turkey, Macedonia co-operate to fight terrorism

The two countries agreed their security agencies will more effectively exchange information.

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Macedonia's Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski speak to reporters in Skopje on December 23rd. [Tomislav Georgiev/SETimes]

This columnist?s first of a few encounters with Melih Gökçek, the unchallenged mayor of the Turkish capital since 1994, was through a press release from the municipality, sent by fax to this newspaper, in the mid-1990s. It was grotesquely (but cutely) signed: Melih Gökçek, Lord Mayor of Ankara. It caused laughter in the newsroom.