Central Bank Governor Erdem Ba?ç? very uncomfortable

Central Bank Governor Erdem Ba?ç?, who was rumored to have resigned on Thursday, just like Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, spoke to me on the phone in a wry tone of voice. He thanked me for my ?get well soon? wishes and said he was using antibiotics. 

I told him about the rumors circulating that he had resigned but Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu did not accept his resignation. He said the prime ministry had already issued a statement about this, denying the rumors. I mentioned that instead of Babacan or himself making a direct announcement, the public was left with the statements of other parties. This time he said directly that there was no resignation.

Looking at the developments and the background, Ba?ç? is obviously uncomfortable. He must have told the prime minister that things cannot go on like this. The PM must have tried to convince Ba?ç? and gain some time.

Wednesday evening was marked by resignation rumors about Babacan, while on Thursday morning the stories about Ba?ç? followed. On the Ankara Review website, it was reported that Ba?ç? did not attend the Bank Board meeting held on Thursday morning, leaving one of his deputies in charge. When this went public, Central Bank Spokesperson Yücel Yazar said Ba?ç? was having a heath check and there were no serious health problems. Yazar said Ba?ç? would be back in his job on Friday afternoon. 

Actually, the Central Bank board meets according to the governor?s schedule. In other words, if the governor is sick or travelling, it rearranges to meet on another day.

The morning after an evening when there have been rumors that the deputy prime minister has resigned, no Central Bank governor goes for a health check up for a minor health issue - especially at an...