'Turkey Is Now Closer To IYI Party Gov't Than Ever Before,' Claims Opposition Chair

Turkey is now closer to a government led by the opposition Good (IYI) Party than ever before, the party's leader said on Wednesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his allies "have been unable to rule the country, it's as plain as day. The ballot box appeared on the horizon, an IYI Party government is closer than ever before," Meral Aksener told her party's parliamentary group.

Turkey's next general elections are set for June 2023.

"When we liberate the country from the current government and take the reins of power, we will show everyone how Turkey is governed," she added.

Criticizing the government's economic policies, Aksener said her party would boost the country's economy "by placing importance on merit."

"Their mentality, it is to impoverish our people, to turn Turkey into Bangladesh. In our vision, we have a developed, strong, and rich Turkey that competes with Europe," she added.

Recent jumps in inflation and losses in value of the Turkish currency, the lira, have led opposition parties to attack the government's economic policy, including unorthodox interest rate cuts.

Erdogan has said the rate cuts are part of his "new economic model" and a "war of economic liberation" for Turkey.

"Interest rates are the reason, inflation is the result," Erdogan has argued repeatedly, pledging that his policies will lead to high growth and broad-based prosperity. -