Erdogan hits Turkey currency storm month before polls

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing a potentially severe crisis just a month ahead of elections over the sharp depreciation of the lira which risks buffeting his campaign and even influencing voters.

Erdogan has always painted himself as a champion of the Turkish economy, pointing to how growth and investment have expanded under his rule after the misery of Turkey's 2000-2001 financial crisis.

But the lira's depreciation by nearly 19 percent against the US dollar since the snap polls were called on April 18 may signal the economy could be a burden, rather than a boost, for Erdogan.

The Turkish strongman, a doughty campaigner and so far undefeated at the ballot box in any poll, has been strangely reticent in this campaign although his team emphasises his rallies will get fully under way on Saturday.

And when he speaks to the crowds in town squares nationwide, Erdogan will have to now confront people's fears that the external value of the money in their pocket is crumbling.

"For Turks, a weak currency translates into a weak economy, so it's difficult to see how this will not hurt Erdogan and the AKP (ruling party) even though their voter base is fairly loyal," said Atilla Yesilada, country advisor at Global Source Partners in Istanbul, said.

Although the country was the fastest growing in the G20 in 2017, recording 7.4 percent growth, concerns remain over the economy overheating, the widening current account deficit and double-digit inflation. Inflation is currently at 10.85 percent.

On Wednesday, the lira for the first time ever tested the 5.0 ceiling by hitting 4.92 lira to the dollar before later dropping to 4.86, losing over 4.0 percent of its value.

Erdogan himself has spooked the markets by saying he plans a greater say in monetary policy -- despite the nominal independence of the central bank -- after the polls.

Analysts at Commerzbank said in a note that Turkey was going through a "currency crisis".

- 'Immediate impact' -

Even though the June 24 polls come at a time of strains with the West and the Turkish army is fresh from a successful operation inside Syria, pollsters' surveys show the economy is now the issue of most concern to Turks.

In polling done earlier this month by Ankara-based MAK Consultancy, 45 percent of 5,400 respondents told researchers the country's most significant issue was the economy.

Another survey last month by Gezici pollster found 48.6 percent said economic woes were Turkey's biggest issue.

And Turks' faith in their economy is falling: the consumer confidence index dropped by 2.8 percentage points in May to 69.9 from 71.9 in April, according to the Turkish statistics office on Wednesday.

"Globally, it is shown that the economic performance has an immediate impact on voting behaviour. Hence, the sizeable economic costs may have an impact on voting behaviour," Selva Demiralp, associate professor of economics at Koc University in Istanbul, told AFP.

She warned it was "hard to predict how the economy will evolve in the near future".

Yesilada added: "If this exchange rate shock translates into weaker economic performance they will lose some more votes and the spectre of AKP losing power could become a reality in a fair election."

- 'Playing with the dollar' -

Analysts have long said Erdogan's administration has been split between pro-market pragmatists like Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, a former Merrill Lynch strategist, and advisors known for outlandish statements such as Yigit Bulut.

With the president wanting the central bank to keep interest rates low to boost growth, there has so far been so sign of the emergency action called for by economists to boost the lira.

Erdogan has often blamed outsiders for economic problems in Turkey, railing against unnamed actors trying to wage "economic terror" against the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag on Wednesday said voters were aware of the games being played.

"They are deluded if they think they can change the outcome of the election by playing with the dollar," Bozdag said.