Turkey's new interior minister takes oath

ANKARA

Minister Ala is the only new minister among all 10 replacements in the Cabinet that is not a member of Parliament AA Photo

Efkan Ala, who has been appointed as the new Interior Minister of Turkey, took the parliamentary oath on Jan. 2, as he is the only new minister among all 10 replacements in the Cabinet that is not a member of Parliament

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reshuffled his Cabinet on Dec. 25 after three key ministers resigned over a sweeping corruption and bribery scandal that has targeted his allies and rattled his government.

According to the Constitution and the internal regulations of Parliament, as long as he serves as a member of the Cabinet, Ala will obey the conditions that lawmakers are dependent on and will have legislative immunity. Although able to get allowance, travel expenses and deliver speeches at General Assembly sessions like other Parliament members, he will, however, not be able to vote.

Back in 2001, the State Minister for Economy Kemal Derviş and in 2009, current Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu were appointed as members of the Cabinet, although not being a member of the Parliament.