HDP MP submits parliamentary question, asks if Albayrak will resign 'after ruining economy'

HDP deputy Garo Paylan has submitted a parliamentary question, asking Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak if he is thinking of resigning "after ruining the economy in two years." "During you term, citizens have become impoverished, unemployment has increased and the cost of living became unbearable. During your term, the reserves of the Central Bank and state banks have been drained,” Paylan wrote in his parliamentary question.

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Garo Paylan has submitted a parliamentary question asking if Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak will resign.

Turkish Lira sinks to all-time low against US dollarTurkish Lira sinks to all-time low against US dollar

“Youhave ruined the economy in two years. Are you thinking of resigning?”Paylan asked in his parliamentary question addressing Albayrak.

“InJuly 2018, when you were assigned to the duty, dollar was at a levelof 4.54 Turkish liras, euro was at a level of 5.34 Turkish liras andquarter gold coin at a level of 304 Turkish liras. This week, dollarhas exceeded 7.30 liras, euro has exceeded 8.70 liras and quartergold coin has exceeded 800 liras,” Paylan said.

“When you first came to the duty, a person earning minimum wage would be buying five quarter gold coins, whereas today this person can no longer buy even three gold coins. During you term, citizens have become impoverished, unemployment has increased and the cost of living became unbearable. During your term, the reserves of the Central Bank and state banks have been drained,” Paylan also wrote in his parliamentary question.

Turkish lira hit a record low of 7.32 against the dollar on Aug. 7 after losing nearly 19 percent against the greenback so far this year, with growing concern that state efforts to stabilize the currency could fizzle and spark bigger problems for the country’s economy.

Amid calls for Albayrak's resignation, officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) threw their support behind the finance minister, defending him on Twitter using the hashtag “We stand with Berat Albayrak.”

Gov't lends support to Finance Minister Albayrak after he was criticized over worsening economyGov't lends support to Finance Minister Albayrak after he was criticized over worsening economy