Ankara
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on February 17 that Turkey will surely win the fight against inflation and rising living costs as the government gradually implements its plan to build a “Greater Turkey.”
“We will not be hindered by all these things, especially the rising cost of living. We will save our people from all these hardships. We are implementing our plan to build a great Turkey step by step,” Erdogan said at a ceremony marking the public employment of people with disabilities in Ankara.
“Turkey is experiencing the strongest period in its economic history,” Erdogan said, reiterating his commitment to defeating all “economic conspiracies” surrounding inflation, currency rates and interest rates.
“Discussion on interest rates is almost off the agenda. Similarly, foreign currency rates have been stabilized. Next we will keep inflation at single digits,” Erdogan vowed.
“We will start to see the positive effects of this situation as the summer tourism season starts and employment grows. No one should doubt that. Don’t listen to those who stoke pessimism,” Erdogan said, reiterating that maintaining social cohesion was the most important factor.
Erdogan noted that Turkey has recently taken steps to isolate itself from other countries despite the severe global health crisis and the shifting global balance, “but Turkey is reaping the benefits of its preparations, especially through investment and jobs. There are certainly challenges, but we will definitely overcome them.”
Erdogan said the world order is undergoing major change in the wake of the financial crisis and the ongoing pandemic, and vowed that Turkey is emerging as a leading player in the new global economic order.
The 2023 polls will be important
President Erdogan said the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its main ally, the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), will continue to work in the same spirit until next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, stressing, “The 2023 elections are not a turning point for me or the AKP, but for our country. Turkey will have to make a crucial decision between a bright future of democracy and development and the negativity of the past.”
Turkey’s path is to advance into the highest league, Erdogan said, complaining that the same foreign powers that have tried desperately to stop Turkey’s rise over the past two centuries are once again trying to cut off Turkey’s course.
“That is why the next elections are destined for them too,” he noted, adding: “We will not stop until we make Turkey one of the top 10 economies in the world. We will deliver on our promises, as we have for the past 20 years.”
Erdogan slams opposition coalition
Erdogan also criticized the leaders of six opposition parties, who held their first meeting over the weekend to finalize joint efforts on how to replace the current presidential system with a strengthened parliamentary system if they take power.
“Nothing will come out of this meeting,” Erdogan said.
