Central Banker Blamed as Turkey Slows in Key Vote Year: Economy

As Turkey’s economy slows in an election year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is signaling to voters that it’s the central bank’s fault.

Three months before the parliamentary ballot, Erdogan is blaming the bank for a drop in investments and rising unemployment, accusing it of keeping interest rates too high. The dispute has pushed the lira to a record low, yet for Erdogan and his allies there may be an offsetting political gain.