- Everyone knows who is ultimately responsible for development.

But I do not want to say his name because then they cage me in at once, says a greengrocer in the same breath as he charges for a bag of green pepper fruit.

An elderly woman who has just bargained a few lira for next week's need for potatoes first shows up for an interview, but then rushes to catch up with the vegetable bags in full swing.

- Please, do not broadcast the interview with me on TV.

I do not want any problems, says the woman with tears in her throat.

All she said was that vegetable prices were soaring.

That she now carefully considers the smallest purchase to make everyday life go together.

Not a bad word about President Erdogan or the government.

Criticism can end in court

Is the fear of complaining about vegetable prices justified?

In any case, it is understandable.

To describe only the economic development in Turkey, with sharp inflation and the fall of the lira, has many times ended up in court.

In 2019, two financial journalists from Bloomberg were prosecuted after in their reporting they described the race of the lira.

The prosecutor accused them of undermining Turkey's economic stability.

In May this year, a criminal investigation was launched against a group of researchers who conducted an independent investigation of inflation in Turkey.

Among other things, they were accused of "misleading the public".

Three deposed central bank governors in two years

It is even more dangerous to challenge President Erdogan and the Turkish government's way of running the economy.

For many years now, Erdogan has been waging a war of position against the country's central bank.

Experienced economists and bureaucrats at the central bank who strive to raise interest rates to defend the value of the Turkish lira are living dangerously because Erdogan insists that interest rates should be low.

Erdogan has ousted three central bank governors in two years.

Last week, he fired three officials for his opposition to lowering interest rates.

The president's pressure undermines confidence in the central bank's independence and scares away investors.

Erdogan and interest rates

So why is it so important for Erdogan to keep interest rates down?

It is not uncommon for politicians to want to keep interest rates low.

It is usually called a classic pork policy, many voters simply benefit from being able to borrow money cheaply.

What is unusual, however, is Erdogan's theory that low interest rates counteract inflation, which goes against what economic expertise says on the issue.

Regardless of the interest rate policy, one thing is certain.

Turkey's economy is doing badly and many are getting worse when prices rise and wages do not keep up.

Support is deteriorating

Even if people do not want to complain openly, the dissatisfaction is still spreading.

Opinion polls suggest support for President Erdogan is lower than ever in his nearly two decades in power.

With two years to go until the next presidential election, it looks like Erdogan may find it harder than ever to secure power.

Perhaps the onion prize will be his most dangerous political enemy.

Join the Turkish vegetable market and see how inflation affects.

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Join the Turkish vegetable market and see how inflation affects.

Photo: Hélène Franchineau / SVT