5 presidents in 5 years... Constitutional Court ends Erdoğan's authority to dismiss the Central Bank Governor!

The Constitutional Court has annulled the authority of President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to replace the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) governor before their term expires. 

In the decision dated December 7, 2023, issued following an annulment request signed by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and 135 deputies, certain articles of Decree-Law (KHK) No. 703 were struck down. 

According to the report by Berfu Kargı from Karar; the Constitutional Court ruled that clauses (h) and (j) of Article 151 of the Decree-Law were unconstitutional. The details of the decision were published in the June 4, 2024, issue of the Official Gazette.

ANNULLED REGULATIONS

Clause (h): Repeal of the first paragraph of Article 25 of Law No. 1211.

Clause (j): Repeal of certain phrases and sentences in Article 29 of Law No. 1211.

RATIONALE FOR THE DECISION

The court ruled that these regulations, enacted without authorization from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), were unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court's decision was published in the June 4, 2024, issue of the Official Gazette.

PAST PROCESS

It first began on July 6, 2019, when President and AKP Chairman Erdoğan dismissed TCMB Governor Murat Çetinkaya and appointed Murat Uysal in his place. This process had continued in a similar fashion until today.

DISMISSED TCMB GOVERNORS

Murat Uysal (2019-2020)

Naci Ağbal (2020-2021)

Prof. Dr. Şahap Kavcıoğlu (2021-2023)

Dr. Hafize Gaye Erkan (2023-2024)

Most recently, Hafize Gaye Erkan was dismissed and Dr. Fatih Karahan was appointed in her place.