Protests against Turkish President Erdogan’s government continued in major Turkish cities on Wednesday night due to the continuing slump in the Turkish Lira and the economic turmoil in the country, with unprecedented images of shortages of basic goods and medicines, and long queues at gas stations, due to the expected increase in the price of fuel.
Citizens are protesting against the dramatic fall in the exchange rate of the Turkish currency, which since the beginning of the year has lost about 43% of its value resulting in a drastic reduction in their purchasing power.
The devaluation of the Lira against the dollar and the euro, unprecedented for Erdogan’s 17-year rule, has taken to the streets in large numbers, with protesters even demanding the resignation of the ruling AKP and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
The demonstration that took place in one district, on the Asian side of Istanbul, was attacked by police officers, where many protesters were beaten or arrested, journalists and photojournalists were also blocked by police. Protesters chanting anti-government slogans were also arrested in Sisli.
Inflation is already running at an annual rate of 20 percent. The current economic conditions are causing a spike in the cost of living for many, severely eroding Turks’ purchasing power and causing high unemployment.
Riot police broke up a protest in Istanbul on Wednesday by demonstrators denouncing the government’s economic policies. Dozens of protesters were detained.
