'Removing Turkey's CB head not issue of independence'

ANKARA

The recent removal of the country's Central Bank head has nothing to do with the bank's independence, said a Turkish opposition party leader on Tuesday.

Speaking to his party's parliamentary group, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli criticized the debate over the president’s decision last weekend to replace Turkey's Central Bank governor.

He blasted "those who weave disaster scenarios by hiding behind the Central Bank head” as “impertinents” who lack shame.

Calling the Central Bank head a bureaucrat on government assignment, Bahceli said: "No bureaucrat is privileged."

"Those who duly carry out their duty remain, otherwise they go. This is how the state operates," said Bahceli.

Murat Cetinkaya was dismissed from his post as Central Bank governor early Saturday via presidential decree, to be replaced by his deputy Murat Uysal.

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on Monday defended the move.

"The removal was within the rights entitled to the president," said Deputy Party Chair Mehmet Mus.