Protests in Turkey against government economic policies
Protests continue in Turkey against high living costs, the devaluation of the lira, and worsening livelihood.
Turkey's Diyar Bakr witnessed the protests of thousands of people against the government's economic policies and inflation, demanding better conditions for workers. Videos of the protests were circulated on social media.
طوابير سيارات وتكدس علي محطات الوقود في كل أنحاء #تركيا لتعبئة السيارات بالوقود وذلك قبل بدء تنفيذ قرار رفع أسعار البنزين والديزل والغاز بساعات pic.twitter.com/FS5FTFqLM5
— 𝓐𝓵𝓲 (@3laweista) December 18, 2021
Many see reports of tumbling lira due to Erdoğan's authoritarian incompetence, but may dismiss with "whatever, I don't like money-based systems anyway", but effects against the people is real and disastrous.
— b9AcE 🐊 (@b9AcE) December 17, 2021
Illustration, a bread queue in Turkey,
via Bistun Manisht Democratic: pic.twitter.com/2GrHQI2Utm
More than 5000 people protested a week ago in Istanbul against the lira's devaluation and the decrease in the purchasing power, marking the first major congregation in light of the problems that have plagued Turkey's economy for months. Protestors called for the government's resignation.
The Turkish lira hit fresh lows on Thursday after the central bank fired the latest salvo in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "economic war of independence" by cutting interest rates for the fourth successive month.
The main rate decreased from 14 to 15% in the face of an annual inflation rate that surpassed 20% and is expected to climb even higher over the next few weeks.