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DYNAMIC CABINET TO ESPOUSE REFORMS
Today's Zaman
May 4 2009
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's fresh appointments and
reshuffling of the Cabinet late last week suggest that his ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has learned lessons from the
March local elections and is aiming for a return to its reformist line.
Erdogan announced changes to the Cabinet on Friday after receiving
approval from President Abdullah Gul, coming in the wake of Turkey's
March 29 local elections and amidst the ongoing global financial
crisis. Eight ministers were removed from Cabinet seats, and nine
new faces became ministers. Seven were shuffled to different posts
in the 27-member ministers' club.
Some political analysts say the Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) government will regain its reformist program with the new
Cabinet, but others are saying Erdogan's changes are not enough. The
most striking characteristic of the new Cabinet is that it is made
up of a group that is solidly behind Turkey's aspiration to join the
European Union and legislation passed by Parliament to this end. Among
the newcomers are Nihat Ergun as the minister of industry and commerce
and Sadullah Ergin as the minister of justice.
Former Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin's replacement by Ergin is
not being attributed to poor performance on his part, but speculation
abounds that he will be a candidate for the post of parliament speaker
in August. Current Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan has already
announced that he will run again when his term in office expires on
July 22, but most AK Party deputies are cold to the idea, and the
party is not expected to nominate Toptan for the post again. Å~^ahin
may also be appointed AK Party parliamentary group chairman.
According to analyst Mahir Kaynak, in the coming term the AK Party will
refocus on its bid to join the EU but will not allocate most of its
agenda to membership in the bloc. "Turkey is a regional power, but its
internal policies occupy the majority of political parties' agendas.
The Cabinet changes show that the AK Party finally has devised its
financial path, which is to pursue a different method in investment and
production," he said. Kaynak also opined that the removal of ministers
from the Cabinet should not be interpreted as failure on their part.
The replacement of former Finance Minister Kemal Unakıtan by
Mehmet Å~^imÅ~_ek has been widely interpreted as demonstrating the
government's determination to fight the effects of the ongoing economic
crisis with new methods.
The most striking appointments, however, were those of Ali Babacan
and Ahmet Davutoglu. Professor Davutoglu is now Turkey's minister
of foreign affairs, taking over the post from Babacan, who was made
a deputy prime minister and will be responsible for coordination of
the nation's economy.
"It is a considerable and pleasing development that Babacan has
been entrusted with greater responsibility in the Cabinet and
government. Changes in posts related to finance and the economy
show that the AK Party is aware of the 'financial tsunami' and does
not turn a blind eye to 'well-intentioned criticism directed at AK
Party economic policies.' Davutoglu's appointment to the Foreign
Ministry was inevitable. He was promoted to the office at a time
when the government is working to protect friendly ties with the
[US President Barack] Obama administration in the United States and
striving to improve its relations with Armenia," remarked Mehmet Altan,
a political analyst and columnist for the Star daily.
'Davutoglu deserved new position' Analysts have applauded Erdogan's
appointment of Davutoglu as the new minister of foreign affairs, as he
was one of the architects of Turkey's current foreign policy. Pursuing
this policy, Turkey has improved its relations with many neighboring
countries, becoming actively engaged in peacemaking processes;
Turkey no longer regards its neighbors as "threats" to its own
existence. Davutoglu's appointment proves that Erdogan has faith in
his policies.
The names removed from the Cabinet roster are proof ok the March 29
election results in the composition of the new team. Erdogan left
Unakıtan out of the new Cabinet due to his party's failure to garner
the votes expected in Unakıtan's home province of EskiÅ~_ehir. Erdogan
also did not include anyone on his Cabinet team from Å~^anlıurfa,
where the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) won a victory
against the ruling party.
How should Arınc's role in new Cabinet be perceived?
One of the most striking appointments was that of former Parliament
Speaker Bulent Arınc, who became one of three deputy prime
ministers. Arınc has gained considerable support from AK Party
supporters with his recent statements on the ongoing Ergenekon
trial. He is regarded as a man who voices ideas that cannot be uttered
by AK Party officials.
Others, however, are concerned that Arınc may frustrate AK Party
opponents with his statements. Arınc was one of three figures with
major contributions to the AK Party's establishment (along with
Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul). The appointment of Arınc as
deputy prime minister is interpreted by some as a joining of forces
among Gul, Erdogan and Arınc.
Today's Zaman
May 4 2009
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's fresh appointments and
reshuffling of the Cabinet late last week suggest that his ruling
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has learned lessons from the
March local elections and is aiming for a return to its reformist line.
Erdogan announced changes to the Cabinet on Friday after receiving
approval from President Abdullah Gul, coming in the wake of Turkey's
March 29 local elections and amidst the ongoing global financial
crisis. Eight ministers were removed from Cabinet seats, and nine
new faces became ministers. Seven were shuffled to different posts
in the 27-member ministers' club.
Some political analysts say the Justice and Development Party (AK
Party) government will regain its reformist program with the new
Cabinet, but others are saying Erdogan's changes are not enough. The
most striking characteristic of the new Cabinet is that it is made
up of a group that is solidly behind Turkey's aspiration to join the
European Union and legislation passed by Parliament to this end. Among
the newcomers are Nihat Ergun as the minister of industry and commerce
and Sadullah Ergin as the minister of justice.
Former Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Å~^ahin's replacement by Ergin is
not being attributed to poor performance on his part, but speculation
abounds that he will be a candidate for the post of parliament speaker
in August. Current Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan has already
announced that he will run again when his term in office expires on
July 22, but most AK Party deputies are cold to the idea, and the
party is not expected to nominate Toptan for the post again. Å~^ahin
may also be appointed AK Party parliamentary group chairman.
According to analyst Mahir Kaynak, in the coming term the AK Party will
refocus on its bid to join the EU but will not allocate most of its
agenda to membership in the bloc. "Turkey is a regional power, but its
internal policies occupy the majority of political parties' agendas.
The Cabinet changes show that the AK Party finally has devised its
financial path, which is to pursue a different method in investment and
production," he said. Kaynak also opined that the removal of ministers
from the Cabinet should not be interpreted as failure on their part.
The replacement of former Finance Minister Kemal Unakıtan by
Mehmet Å~^imÅ~_ek has been widely interpreted as demonstrating the
government's determination to fight the effects of the ongoing economic
crisis with new methods.
The most striking appointments, however, were those of Ali Babacan
and Ahmet Davutoglu. Professor Davutoglu is now Turkey's minister
of foreign affairs, taking over the post from Babacan, who was made
a deputy prime minister and will be responsible for coordination of
the nation's economy.
"It is a considerable and pleasing development that Babacan has
been entrusted with greater responsibility in the Cabinet and
government. Changes in posts related to finance and the economy
show that the AK Party is aware of the 'financial tsunami' and does
not turn a blind eye to 'well-intentioned criticism directed at AK
Party economic policies.' Davutoglu's appointment to the Foreign
Ministry was inevitable. He was promoted to the office at a time
when the government is working to protect friendly ties with the
[US President Barack] Obama administration in the United States and
striving to improve its relations with Armenia," remarked Mehmet Altan,
a political analyst and columnist for the Star daily.
'Davutoglu deserved new position' Analysts have applauded Erdogan's
appointment of Davutoglu as the new minister of foreign affairs, as he
was one of the architects of Turkey's current foreign policy. Pursuing
this policy, Turkey has improved its relations with many neighboring
countries, becoming actively engaged in peacemaking processes;
Turkey no longer regards its neighbors as "threats" to its own
existence. Davutoglu's appointment proves that Erdogan has faith in
his policies.
The names removed from the Cabinet roster are proof ok the March 29
election results in the composition of the new team. Erdogan left
Unakıtan out of the new Cabinet due to his party's failure to garner
the votes expected in Unakıtan's home province of EskiÅ~_ehir. Erdogan
also did not include anyone on his Cabinet team from Å~^anlıurfa,
where the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) won a victory
against the ruling party.
How should Arınc's role in new Cabinet be perceived?
One of the most striking appointments was that of former Parliament
Speaker Bulent Arınc, who became one of three deputy prime
ministers. Arınc has gained considerable support from AK Party
supporters with his recent statements on the ongoing Ergenekon
trial. He is regarded as a man who voices ideas that cannot be uttered
by AK Party officials.
Others, however, are concerned that Arınc may frustrate AK Party
opponents with his statements. Arınc was one of three figures with
major contributions to the AK Party's establishment (along with
Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul). The appointment of Arınc as
deputy prime minister is interpreted by some as a joining of forces
among Gul, Erdogan and Arınc.