New details on Hafize Gaye Erkan's resignation! What did Erdoğan say to Şimşek?

Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, who had been on the agenda due to allegations regarding her family, has resigned after requesting to be relieved of her duties.

While the Official Gazette stated that Erkan was dismissed, Fatih Karahan was appointed to head the Central Bank.

As the repercussions of the high-level change at the Central Bank continue, Türkiye newspaper columnist Cem Küçük, known for his proximity to the government, shared details regarding Erkan's dismissal.

Stating that the main problem was Hafize Gaye Erkan's father, Erol Erkan, Küçük said, "The Central Bank is in Ataşehir, Istanbul. Her father thought this place was the 'family mansion'! He interfered in the work. He had people he didn't like fired. He got involved in everything."

"ERDOĞAN SAID 'YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT'"

Stating that Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek explained the situation to AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Küçük shared the following information: "Erdoğan said, 'You can do whatever you want.' Şimşek had already realized that things would no longer work with Ms. Gaye. Şimşek, with full authority, dismissed Gaye Erkan and appointed Fatih Karahan in her place. In fact, the Official Gazette states that Ms. Gaye was 'dismissed'."

The relevant section of Cem Küçük's column is as follows:

"The most important issue after the May 14-28 elections was the economy. Our President Erdoğan brought Mehmet Şimşek to the head of the economy with full authority. President Erdoğan told Mehmet Şimşek, 'You can build your own team.'

For Mr. Şimşek, the most important issue was the Central Bank. Hafize Gaye Erkan was the perfect fit for this position. She had studied at the world's best schools and worked at global financial institutions. She had foreseen that the First Republic Bank, where she last worked, would go bankrupt, but the bank did not do what was necessary.

Mehmet Şimşek, who took office with full authority, brought Ms. Gaye to the Central Bank Presidency. Things went well since June. Monetary tightening was achieved. Interest rates were raised. The Medium-Term Program was carried out in a very healthy manner.

However, some malfunctions occurred later. The explanation that Ms. Gaye, who earned serious money in the US, moved into her father's house because she could not find a house due to high rents, did not go over well. Because Ms. Gaye is a wealthy woman and it is known that they have family apartment buildings in Istanbul.

The main problem became Ms. Gaye's father. The Central Bank is in Ataşehir, Istanbul. Her father thought this place was the 'family mansion'! He interfered in the work. He had people he didn't like fired. He got involved in everything... No matter which school you graduate from, unfortunately, 'Middle Easternism' does not go away. Even if you stay in the US for 20 years, the attitude does not change. For example, could Ms. Gaye's father go and come to her daughter's side at Goldman Sachs? Was he not using that place like a farm too? On top of that, Ms. Gaye's father tried to 'virtue signal' through journalists who have no credibility...

All these events reached the ears of Mehmet Şimşek. Meanwhile, Ms. Gaye, who went to the US in mid-December, did not return for 26 days. It was said that she was holding meetings with companies. No public official—except for mandatory duties—can stay abroad for 26 days!

Mehmet Şimşek, realizing that Gaye Erkan's family and emotional structure could not handle these tasks, explained the situation to Mr. Erdoğan. Erdoğan had already left the economic management to Mehmet Şimşek as it was. He said, 'You can do whatever you want.' Şimşek had already realized that things would no longer work with Ms. Gaye.

Şimşek, with full authority, dismissed Gaye Erkan and appointed Fatih Karahan in her place. In fact, the Official Gazette states that Ms. Gaye was 'dismissed'."