Will Hafize Gaye Erkan be dismissed? Who is the candidate being considered to replace her?

Prof. Dr. Şenol Babuşcu, an economist and former Deputy General Manager of Ziraat Bank, has stated that Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, who has been at the center of recent controversies, could be dismissed from her post.

"SHE COULD BE DISMISSED BEFORE THE ELECTIONS"

Speaking to İrem Karataş from Cumhuriyet, Şenol Babuşcu said, "It is also interesting that Ms. Erkan has been in the US for 20 days. There is talk that Erkan and Mehmet Şimşek only met after taking office and that there is a coldness between them. It looks like Ms. Erkan will be dismissed. I think she could be dismissed before the elections."

THE HATİCE KARAHAN CLAIM

Stating that the dismissal of Gaye Erkan "would not create any impact on the economy or the markets. What matters is who will be appointed in her place," Babuşcu added, "Rumors have already started regarding this issue. Cevdet Akçay, one of the deputy governors, and Hatice Karahan, who has been brought to the agenda by pro-government channels, are being discussed."

Expressing his belief that Hatice Karahan will be appointed to the position, Babuşcu continued:

"Because politically, Akçay is not a name close to the AKP; he is an honest name who knows the Central Bank. Karahan, on the other hand, is someone who has served as an advisor to the President for years and has politically devoted herself to the AKP. Political preferences will come to the fore."

WHO IS HATİCE KARAHAN? 

TCMB Deputy Governor Prof. Dr. Hatice Karahan was born in Istanbul in 1978. She graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Boğaziçi University in 1999. After receiving her master's degree in economics from Boğaziçi University in 2001, she went to the US to conduct academic work. Completing her doctorate in economics at Syracuse University in 2006, Karahan also conducted research at the Center for Policy Research within the same university.

After returning to Turkey, in addition to teaching at various universities, she undertook advisory roles at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK). Karahan also served as an economic advisor for many years at leading Turkish business organizations such as the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO).

As of 2015, she served as the founding chair of the Department of Economics and Finance at Istanbul Medipol University. She received the title of professor in 2020.

Having been appointed as Chief Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey in July 2017, Karahan also served as a visiting scholar in the field of economics at Harvard University and Columbia University for 2 years.

Karahan was appointed as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey on July 28, 2023.