Since a secret two-year graft probe hit the surface on Dec.17 — bringing into the spotlight allegations that three sons of cabinet members in a close-knit network abused their fathers’ power and received bribes, tearing apart the government’s self-declared presumption of innocence in the fight against corruption since it came to power over a decade ago — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been on the offensive attempting to paint the scandal as a foreign plot against his government.

Speaking in Giresun, a Black Sea coastal city, on Dec. 22, Erdogan said, “In the last week, certain power centers in the security establishment have started to implement a conspiracy plot. They are setting a very illegal, ugly, and a very dark trap hidden behind corruption allegations.” He argued, “Turkey has lowered interest rates in the past 11 years and earned 642 billion [Turkish] lira [$307 billion]. The interest rate lobby is now enraged because this money would have been in its pockets. It lost that 642 billion lira. That is the issue. It wants to get back that money it lost in interest rates. It wants to rob and exploit Turkey.” 

Erdogan had claimed during the Gezi Park protests that the interest rate lobby had encouraged people to take to the streets to oppose the government’s decision to turn one of Istanbul’s last green spots into a shopping mall. Although it has not been clear as to whom exactly Erdogan was alluding to by that interest rate lobby, it has been widely perceived to mean pro-Israel organizations in the United States. 

In Ordu, another Black Sea coastal city, he said on Dec. 21, “This international plot has its roots abroad. [Local] people are used as subcontractors. Just as we spoiled their game at Gezi [park protests in June], we will spoil their game this time, too. Their slander campaign continues.” He added, “What did you want from Halk Bank? … This bank steps on the feet of the interest-rate lobby. Turkey’s enemies fear this bank. As long as God gives us health, we will explain this truth to everyone. Our nation is well-aware of this game, but we will also continue talking about it.”