Hafize Gaye Erkan, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, posted on her social media account and asked for her pardon from her post. Erkan said, “I have asked our President to pardon me from my duty, which I have carried out with honor since the first day.” Minister of Treasury and Finance Şimşek stated that Erkan’s decision was purely personal and said, “I welcome this decision with respect and thank her for her valuable service and contributions to our country.”
Hafize Gaye Erkan’s statement published on her social media X account is as follows.
As the public is aware, I have been serving as the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey since June 8, 2023.
As a son of the motherland who was born, raised and educated in this land, for every inch of which a price was paid, when this sacred duty was entrusted to me, I came to my country and took up my duty without caring about my personal circumstances. At that time, as the mother of a child who had not yet reached the age of majority, I was of course aware of the difficulties of maintaining such an intense duty. In order to serve our state and nation, I have been at the head of my duty day and night tirelessly until today. At this point, our economic program has started to bear fruit. The increase in our reserves, economic data and indicators on the main trend of inflation are proof of this success.
Despite all these positive developments, as the public is aware, there has been a major campaign of reputation assassination against me recently. In order to prevent my family and, moreover, my sinless child, who has not even turned one and a half years old yet, from being further affected by this process, I have requested Mr. President to pardon me from my duty, which I have carried out with honor since the first day.
I owe a debt of gratitude to our Honorable Minister of Treasury and Finance for making me proud to be the first female Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and to my colleagues with whom I have been working for nearly 9 months, each of whom has worked with great devotion day and night.
I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to Mr. President for giving me the opportunity to serve my country and nation, which is the greatest legacy I will leave to my son, after 22 years of management and banking experience in the private sector in the United States, and for never withholding his support during my term of office.