Erdogan sacks statistics chief as inflation tension escalates

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday issued a presidential decree, dismissing the head of the National Statistics Agency, Said Erdal Kandinger, after publishing the annual inflation figures.

Kandinger came under fire after he published data in early January that estimated annual inflation at 36.1%, the highest level in 19 years.

While the opposition has suggested that this figure is lower than the reality, pointing out that the actual cost of living increase is at least twice higher, Erdogan did not explain why he decided to appoint Erhan Chetenkaya, the former vice president of the Turkish Banking Regulatory Authority, as the new head of the National Statistical Organization instead of Dinger.

Inflation rose to more than 36% in one year in December in Turkey, a record since September 2002, due to the devaluation of the Turkish lira, according to France-Presse Agency.

On January 23, Turkish Finance Minister Noureddine Nabati said that he expected inflation to peak at around 40% in the coming months, and not exceed 50% in 2022.

Erdogan finds himself in an uncomfortable position 18 months before the presidential election and continues to defend his options.

Aware of the damage inflation has done to the economy and to his approval ratings, Erdogan pledged in January to bring inflation down as quickly as possible.