Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is attempting a political restart with conciliatory tones and a massive government reshuffle. The Turkish ruler wants to put aside “the resentment and anger of the election campaign”.
On Saturday evening, newly sworn-in Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented his new cabinet, with respected economist Mehmet Simsek as finance minister. This is seen as a departure from the previous inflation policy.
Despite skyrocketing inflation, the president kept interest rates low for years to boost the economy. The result was a further devaluation of the national currency, the lira, and a massive loss of wealth, which nearly cost Erdogan his renewed victory in the presidential election.
Only one woman in Erdogan’s cabinet
Erdogan also brought close confidants to important posts. Secret Service Chief Hakan Fidan becomes the new foreign minister. Mevlut Cavusoglu must step down as chief diplomat after ten years
The new defense minister is Erdogan’s former chief of staff Yasar Güler, and the new interior minister is former Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya. The only woman in the cabinet is the new Minister of Family Affairs, Mahinur Özdemir Göktas.
At his swearing-in ceremony in front of the 600 MPs, Erdogan promised to “do his duty impartially”.
Erdogan “swears” to abide by the rule of law
“I swear, as president, to use all my strength to protect the existence and independence of the state,” the president said at the ceremony, which was broadcast live on Turkish television. Erdogan pledged not to deviate from the rule of law and the secular principles of the republic founded 100 years ago by first president Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
After the swearing-in, Erdogan’s supporters stood up and applauded for several minutes. However, some opposition MPs refused to stand.
In the pouring rain, Erdogan walked from parliament to the mausoleum of the republic’s founder Atatürk, where he proclaimed a “new era” and promised to “bring home as soon as possible” those who had fled the stricken area after the devastating earthquake of February 6. . . At least 50,000 people died in the earthquake and about three million people left their devastated cities.
Conciliatory words towards the opposition
Erdogan then delivered a surprisingly conciliatory speech at his giant presidential palace on a hill in Ankara. He expects the opposition to “act with a sense of responsibility for the well-being and democracy of Turkey”. Erdogan called on the parties, as well as journalists, writers, civil society and artists, to “reconcile with the national will”. He was not referring to the tens of thousands of representatives of these groups who are currently in prison.
With his wife Emine by his side, Erdogan further pledged to “hug all 85 million inhabitants of Turkey, regardless of their political views, origins and beliefs”.
Several heads of state and government, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, attended the inauguration. Stoltenberg was in the front row at the celebratory dinner. During his visit to Ankara, he wants to persuade Erdogan to give up his opposition to Sweden’s membership of NATO. The Scandinavian country had sent its former Prime Minister Carl Bildt to Ankara to encourage NATO membership.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
