ANKARA, May 15-- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to take more effective control on economy, especially monetary policy, if he wins election next month. Speaking during an official visit to London, the Turkish head of state repeated that he would lower interest rates after the crucial June 24 legislative and presidential elections, which will shift Turkey from decades-long parliamentary tradition to a presidential system. "They (the people) will hold the president accountable when they fall into difficulties because of monetary policies," said Erdogan in an interview with Bloomberg television. Analysts are warning that the Turkish economy is overheating despite a spectacular growth rate of 7.4 percent in 2017 but amid a double-digit inflation and unemployment combined with a continuing depreciation of the Turkish lira. The Turkish currency, which has lost more than 13 percent of its value since the start of the year, plunged on Tuesday to its lowest ever point against the U.S. dollar. Erdogan admitted during the interview that investors may be "uncomfortable" because of his future great role in policy making, but said that it was a must. The Turkish strongman has always been in favor of low interests rates, arguing that this was the way to curb inflation. Last week he said in Ankara that high interest rates are "the mother and father of evil," fueling concern that he would not allow the Central Bank to hike rates. |