First-ever ministerial posts for Kurds in Turkish government

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This was published 8 years ago

First-ever ministerial posts for Kurds in Turkish government

By Ceylan Yeginsu

Istanbul: Turkey's short-term interim government, approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has allowed pro-Kurdish party lawmakers to take up ministerial posts for the first time in the country's history. Members of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party were appointed European Union minister and development minister of the caretaker government.

A caretaker government was formed after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's Justice and Development Party lost its parliamentary majority in an election June 7 and was unable to find a junior coalition partner.

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu attends a meeting at his ruling AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Turkey on Friday.

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu attends a meeting at his ruling AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Turkey on Friday.Credit: Reuters

Mr Davutoglu, who was assigned to form the interim government until a snap election on November 1, had trouble filling the government's vacancies after the two main opposition parties declined to participate in a 26-member power-sharing Cabinet. He was forced to fill the interim government with Justice and Development Party and independent legislators.

The post-election political impasse has plunged Turkey into instability following Ankara's decision to renew military operations against Kurdish separatists and take a more active role in the US-led coalition to fight the Islamic State. Opposition parties have accused Mr Erdogan of carefully calculating that the military actions would justify holding a new election. That, in turn, would give his party another chance to regain its majority, which would allow him to realise his ambition of establishing a more powerful presidential post.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan  with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara on Friday.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara on Friday. Credit: Reuters

"This will be the most concrete step on the path to the snap election," Mr Davutoglu said in a meeting with Justice and Development officials before submitting his proposal for the interim government on Friday.

"On our way to November 1, we will act like a government elected for four years," he said. "Our nation should be at ease about this. We will not be working in the mood of an interim government."

Feridun Sinirlioglu, who had been undersecretary of the foreign ministry, was named foreign minister, and Tugrul Turkes of the far-right Nationalist Movement party was named deputy prime minister after breaking ranks with his party, which would not take part in the Cabinet.

Two opinion polls this week suggested that while support for Justice and Development has grown since the June election, it remains unlikely to recapture its majority in November, which could push Turkey into greater instability and political stagnation.

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Turkey's economy has also suffered during the unsuccessful negotiations to form a coalition government, with the lira hitting record lows against the dollar. In the interim cabinet, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci will retain their positions.

Two opinion polls this week suggested that while support for Justice and Development has grown since the June election, it remains unlikely to recapture its majority in November, which could push Turkey into greater instability and political stagnation.

New York Times

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