Turkish PM Erdoğan holds unannounced summit with inner circle

ANKARA

Erdoğan held a three-hour long meeting at Dolmabahçe Palace with Interior Minister Ala, MİT Undersecretary Fidan, Istanbul Police Chief Altınok and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ Jan. 3. DAILY NEWS photo

Amid a deepening political turmoil in the country that has escalated a grand graft probe involving the government that kicked off on Dec. 17, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gathered with his inner circle for an unannounced meeting in Istanbul on Jan. 3.

In the morning, Erdoğan held a meeting with Interior Minister Efkan Ala and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT)) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan at his private residence in the Üsküdar district. Following Friday prayer at a mosque nearby, which he performed along with Istanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu; Istanbul Police Chief Selami Altınok; former EU Minister Egemen Bağış, who has been recently replaced due to reported involvement in the corruption subject to probe, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbaş, his advisors Yalçın Akdoğan and Mustafa Varank and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Ahmet İyimaya, who is also the head of Parliament’s Constitution Commission, Erdoğan proceeded to the Prime Ministry Office at Dolmabahçe Palace.

Erdoğan held a three-hour long meeting at Dolmabahçe Palace with Interior Minister Ala, MİT Undersecretary Fidan, Istanbul Police Chief Altınok and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ.

Meanwhile, anonymous sources from the Prime Ministry Office told the Anadolu Agency Erdoğan will gather with a 45-person group that represents different segments of society. Some members of the Cabinet will also attend the meeting with opinion-leaders, journalists and representatives of civil society organizations, which will be held before noon on Jan. 4, the same sources said, solely saying the meeting will focus on the “recent days’ developments.”