The economy calls for Babacan

If we were to give an example, we can address what we lived through within the past few months.

In September, with the breakdown of Lehman Brothers and then sudden headlines about the financial crisis, it was first experienced in Turkey through the business world. And with daily news released from Washington regarding prevention packages, anxiety grew among the Turkish public. Everybody turned to Ankara...

As for Prime Minister Erdoğan he contented himself by saying: "Our Turkey will not be affected... the crises might only be a tangent... thank God the situation is not bad." He behaved very cold-bloodedly.

The prime minister behaved this way because he could not perceive communication politics very well and did not want to "agitate people." It was not because of a lack of information. What he could not account for was that the society already went beyond this discourse. People had already perceived the danger clearly and were, instead of mitigating, on the contrary watching news on how to take precautions against the crisis.

When the business world increased pressure in succession and made statements like "Ankara is insensitive... a plan is needed... there is no prevention package..., " the prime minister became angry. He perceived their warnings and expectations as a political conspiracy against him.

Ok the prime minister was behaving this way but what about those whom we entrusted with the wheel of the economy, the Treasurer Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Finance Kemal Unakıtan, and Nazım Erken, in charge of economy probably stood in front of the people with the same approach in order not to contradict their boss. Either because they were afraid to talk to the prime minister or he did not listen to them but they could come up with a warning or prevention package for the crisis in order to reassure society.

That was up until the crisis came to a point where it could not be hidden anymore. Afterward the prime minister’s discourse changed and preparations (especially an agreement with the IMF) relieved the public to some extent.

Some might not be happy about this but I hear the business world often say, "If only Babacan would be in charge of the economy." His proximity to the prime minister and, what’s even more important, the trust he gives, even to his opponents, makes Babacan "the man of such days."

Babacan does not spare much time for his position EU prime negotiator anyway. Better to say, because there is no negotiation left with the EU, there is no need for a prime negotiator as well, and taking it from there, in case Babacan were to return to the wheel of economy insiders and outsiders would be very happy.

Hope PM is right
We are experiencing a weird argument regarding the global crisis that started in September.

Constant warnings came from the business world. It’s said the crisis will hit hard but in response the administration does not take precautions, and the agreement with the IMF is belated.

The prime minister says he won’t let the IMF strangle him.

On the weekend, he announced that the crisis had climaxed and that it has entered a stage of decline.

Nobody wants a crisis.

A crisis means unemployment.

Hope that Erdoğan’s prediction comes true. Meaning, that it won’t hit Turkey as hard as the rest and has really started to decline.

Nevertheless, it is a fact that society would like to see itself safe. No matter what anyone says but nobody is happy about the weeks of postponement of precautions and the unfinished agreement with the IMF.

A balance sheet will be made up by the end of 2009. Let’s see who is right and who is wrong. But in the end the oppressed part will be the employee, watching this discussion.

Isn’t it a pity?