Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek sends 'no money' message to chamber and exchange presidents: 'Don't come to me'

10Haber columnist Erdal Sağlam has written an article regarding the meeting between Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and the presidents of chambers and exchanges. 

According to Sağlam's article, it is alleged that Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu supported Mehmet Şimşek, who met with 365 chamber and exchange presidents last week to explain that 'hardships must be endured to fight inflation.'

Accordingly, Şimşek spoke about 'wrong' economic policies and explained 'the need to reduce inflation to single digits as soon as possible, and the problems and the danger of impoverishment the economy would otherwise face.'

"WE WILL ONLY BUILD RAILWAY LINES"

In his article, Sağlam stated that Şimşek said there would be 'no new investments' for a while and used the following expressions:

"We have built enough of these investments, whether they were highways or airports; there will be no new investments for a while. As infrastructure investment, we will only build the planned railway lines to connect organized industrial zones to ports."

Regarding 'rumors about exchange rates,' Şimşek reportedly replied, "I don't understand why gold or foreign currency is still being bought. Yet we have stated it clearly: the Turkish Lira will appreciate during this process."

"DO NOT ASK ME FOR ANYTHING"

Stating that 'everyone wants something because of the election,' the minister noted that he does not want anyone to come to him after the election 'to ask for credit, financial facilities, or in other words, money': "You will struggle; I am telling you this clearly, but do not ask me for anything."

Arguing that he is seen as the 'bad guy' because he stands against demands, Minister Şimşek said, "I am willing to be the bad guy, and my colleagues in the Cabinet see me this way too. But we have to do this; I have to continue to be the bad guy."