20210813 Sahap Kavcioglu

Sahap Kavcioglu, governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, has his hands full dealing with an impatient president and unforgiving markets. © Getty Images

Heat rises on Turkey's central bank chief

Satisfying Erdogan and financial markets proves a major dilemma for Kavcioglu

ISTANBUL -- While markets reacted positively to Turkey's central bank when it held interest rates steady last week, the decisions that Gov. Sahap Kavcioglu must make in future months will be harder and fraught with more risk for the embattled lira.

Higher inflation has eroded the margin of safety built in to interest rates by Kavcioglu's predecessor at the bank, just as Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stepped up his pressure for rate cuts. Kavcioglu -- and investors -- are acutely aware that Erdogan has sacked three successive governors.

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