Turkey: Refusing IMF Funds

Turkey and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced March 10 a suspension of talks over a stand-by agreement that the two sides have been negotiating since 2008. Turkey's economic resilience throughout the global economic recession has allowed the Turkish government to drag out the negotiations for its own political benefit. With strong economic footing, Turkey's Justice and Development Party can refuse the conditions attached to the IMF deal and hold onto the political tools it needs to keep its domestic opponents in check.