No government plans for 'election economics'

Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek has said his ministry will not implement "election economics," so that the upcoming local elections in Turkey reflect as little as possible on the Turkish business world. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have agreed to hold local elections earlier than the originally scheduled date of March 2014, and are discussing the new date, which may be Oct. 27, 2013. The 2013 budget and the medium-range economic program are being prepared without any connection to the elections, Şimşek said, speaking on Saturday at the board meeting of the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) in Ankara. "We need to make sure the elections have as little impact on the Turkish business world as possible. We will not engage in election economics. Such approaches have not been beneficial for Turkey in the past," Simsek said. TUSKON Chairman Rizanur Meral said at a press conference that he had asked the minister not to increase taxes on the business world, as it continues to create jobs and increase exports.  "We requested (of the minister) that he support the competitive power of the business world, which is already facing hardships," Meral said. "He gave us some good news on the issue."