Title: Erdoğan Dismisses Head of Statistics After Inflation Report

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan dismissed the head of the National Statistical Institute via a decree issued on Saturday, following the release of annual inflation figures. The head of the National Statistical Institute, Sadık Erdal Dinçer, faced criticism after he published data in early January estimating the annual inflation rate at 36.1%, the highest level in 19 years. The opposition stated that this figure is lower than reality, indicating that the actual increase in the cost of living is at least twice as high. Erdoğan did not clarify the reason for his decision to appoint Erhan Çetinkaya, former deputy head of the Turkish Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, as the new president of the National Statistical Institute in place of Dinçer. Inflation rose to over 36% within a year in December in Turkey, a record since September 2002, due to the depreciation of the Turkish lira. Erdoğan finds himself in an uncomfortable position with 18 months to go before the presidential elections and continues to defend his choices. Aware of the damage inflation has caused to the economy and his popularity, Erdoğan pledged in January to reduce inflation as quickly as possible. Additionally, Erdoğan appointed former Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ as Minister of Justice, replacing veteran ruling party member Abdülhamit Gül.