AKP unveils new top brass

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Prime Minister Erdoğan holds first meeting with the A-team of his ruling party. AA photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan chose the members of the main executive body of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) , the Central Executive Board (MYK), yesterday from among his party’s 50-seat Central Decision and Executive Council (MKYK). The decision came during a hectic workday during which Parliament approved the government’s motion for a one-year mandate authorizing the military to send ground troops into Syria for cross-border military operations.

Numan Kurtulmuş who, along with a group of close associates, recently joined the ruling party after his People’s Voice Party (HSP) dissolved itself, and former Democrat Party leader Süleyman Soylu, who also recently joined the party, are new members of the MYK and deputy chairs of the party.

Mehmet Ali Şahin, a founder of the AKP and a long time comrade of Erdoğan throughout the latter’s political life, became the new deputy chairman in charge of political and legal affairs. He replaces Abdülkadir Aksuin in the post considered the “second man” in the party.

The MYK consists of 19 members, with 12 of them chosen from among the MKYK members. The rest of the members are the heads of the youth and women’s branches and the five deputy chairs of the party’s parliamentary group.

Yesterday, five figures were replaced. Kurtulmuş will be responsible for economic affairs. His seat was previously occupied by Bülent Gedikli, who was not given a post in the new MYK. Soylu will be responsible for research and development affairs. His seat was previously occupied by Reha Denemeç, who also did not receive a post in the new MYK.

Mustafa Şentop was chosen to replace Zelkif Kazdal, who was responsible for election affairs. Former Antalya Mayor Menderes Türel was chosen to replace Hüseyin Tanrıverdi as the figure responsible for local administrations.

Hüseyin Çelik, deputy chair of the AKP responsible for promotion and media, Ömer Çelik in charge of external affairs, Ekrem Erdem in charge of party organization, Nükhet Hotar in charge of social affairs, Salih Kapusuz in charge of public relations, Ahmet Edip Uğur in charge of financial affairs, and Secretary-General Haluk İpek all will remain in their posts in the party.

The changes regarding the MYK were announced by Çelik.