PM Erdoğan announces 10 new names in major cabinet reshuffle

As the government was shaken by the resignations of three ministers on Wednesday over a sweeping corruption and bribery investigation, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan introduced 10 new names to ministries in a major cabinet reshuffle.

Speaking after meeting with President Abdullah Gül to whom he presented his new list, Erdoğan unveiled his new Cabinet., APA reports quoting Today’s Zaman

Erdoğan said before announcing the new Cabinet that some ministers were already expected to leave their positions as they were named as candidates to run for mayoral posts on behalf of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in several cities in the upcoming local elections. The ruling AK Party named three ministers as candidates in three cities.

With resignations of three ministers on Wednesday, the prime minister found himself with necessity to replace them with new politicians within the ranks of the party.

With sweeping changes in major ministries, AK Party Denizli Deputy Nihat Zeybekçi became new Economy Minister after resignation of Zafer Çağlayan who faces allegations of bribery.

Efkan Ala, Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry came to the top spot at the Interior Ministry after Muammer Güler resigned over allegations of bribery that shaked the ruling AK Party.

AK Party İstanbul Deputy İdris Güllüce has become new Environment and Urban Planning Minister after Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar resigned on Wednesday. Bayraktar who also called on Prime Minister Erdoğan to step down, said a “majority of the construction plans” that are mentioned as unlawful in the corruption investigation were approved upon the orders of the prime minister. “I believe that the prime minister should step down as well in order to relieve the Turkish public.”

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was named as new EU Minister as former Chief Negotiator and EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bağış faces accusations of bribery and fraud.

Sakarya Deputy Ayşe İslam replaced with Fatma Şahin as Family and Social Policies Minister after the latter was named as AK Party's candidate for mayoral post in southern province of Gaziantep near Syria border.