Wolf Piccoli

X's ai chatbot Grok is now blocked in #Turkey. Amazing how Erdoğan's prosecutors still find time to ban Grok, even while working overtime targeting the CHP. Multitasking authoritarianism at its finest.

Almost 2 years into #simsek 's 'stabilization' program (built on 2 pillars: tight monetary policy & fairy tales about reforms etc) and the déjà vu is getting hard to ignore.
Failure is in the air.
#Turkey #sameold

Hafize Gaye Erkan’a yeni görev Mayıs 2023 seçimlerinin ardından Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası (TCMB) Başkanı olarak atanan Hafize Gaye Erkan, 2 Şubat'ta görevinden ayrılmış ve

Disgraced former #TCMB Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan just landed a job at the Presidency, heading some kind of investment and finance office -on the taxpayer’s dime, of course. #Erdoğan always takes care of his people." You can’t make this up.
Source: www.paramedya.com/devami/12962...

@financialtimes.com , you can do better than ⬇️ "well respected" by whom at this stage? Simsek has been in his parallel reality over the past 2y. Zero reforms, fiscal not supportive of disinflationary efforts. #Turkey

Turkey cuts interest rates to 42.5% after inflation falls to 2-year low Borrowing costs reduced for third month running after price rises ease to below 40% for first time since June 2023

In its press release, the #TCMB stated, "Going forward, increased coordination of fiscal policy will also contribute significantly to this [disinflationary] process." I am sceptical – my view via ft.com/content/1271... by @aylajean.bsky.social
#Turkey

The CEO of #Zorlu Holding , Cem #Koksal, has been detained. My piece from earlier today:
#Turkey

Amid recent prosecutions of #TÜSİAD leaders, this new case highlights growing scrutiny of corporate figures in Turkey.
The trajectory of the business environment in #Turkey is increasingly negative.

Köksal’s reply—criticizing the greeting and warning against future messages—was copied to employees (a mistake?). Now, Zorlu CEO faces a prosecutor’s investigation for obstructing freedom of belief.

When corporate comms go wrong: a simple Ramadan greeting sparks a legal storm.
#Vestel CEO Ergün #Güler sent a company-wide Ramadan message, but #Zorlu Holding (which controls Vestel) CEO Cem #Köksal wasn’t pleased.

The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah #Öcalan, has called on the group to disarm and disband. This could mark a historic turning point. #Turkey ⬇️

The message is clear: In Erdoğan’s Turkey, dissent is criminal

Meanwhile, the AKP’s Gezi narrative does double duty: rallying its hardcore base while deflecting attention from real crises—soaring living costs, institutional decay, and deadly disasters like the Bolu hotel fire.

By arresting people over the 2013 #Gezi protests, the regime isn’t just settling old scores—it’s sending a warning shot. With talk of a political ban on İmamoğlu, is this a pre-emptive strike against future unrest?

And the targets? Broader than ever. Politicians from across the political spectrum, journalists, society figures etc

But unlike past crackdowns, this time, the regime isn’t even bothering with pretense—no elaborate justifications, no legal fig leaves. Just raw, unfiltered authoritarianism and laughable accusations

The arrests are now coming so fast and from so many directions that it's getting hard to keep track

Who’s next? That’s the chilling question in #Turkey as #Erdoğan’s judiciary is carrying out yet another wave of repression. A thread🔽

Fast forward to 2025, Tassoulas is set to become Greece’s next president—but Menendez has been handed something entirely different: an 11-year prison sentence for bribery and corruption.

YouTube video by ΕΠΑΜ — Ενιαίο Παλλαϊκό Μέτωπο «Παραδίδουμε την Ελλάδα σε εσάς» Τασούλας σε Μενέντεζ

In Aug 2021, Parliament Speaker K. #Tassoulas told then-Sen. B. #Menendez, “We are handing over #Greece to you.”
youtu.be/MWNx_JztG0U?...

2025 Predictions aka "Turkey precap"

2025 Predictions for Turkey’s Economic Policy

With contributions by:
@iriscibre.bsky.social
@wolfpiccoli.bsky.social
@sinanulgen.bsky.social

www.turkeyrecap.com/i/153969325/...

#Turkey is well positioned to reap rewards from #Assad 's ouster but there is a big IF -- my comments via ekathimerini.com/politics/12557… by @nstamouli.bsky.social
#Syria #Turkey #Erdogan

A pleasure to join Thanos Davelis for a conversation on Prime Minister Kyriakos #Mitsotakis’ bold and risky move to expel former prime minister and lawmaker Antonis #Samaras from New Democracy: thegreekcurrent.simplecast.com/episodes/mitso…
#Greece