Undersecretaries to replace key ministers who are to procedurally resign ahead of elections

ANKARA

AA Photo

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has announced undersecretaries from relevant ministries would be appointed in order to replace the ministers of the interior, justice and transportation ministries, who have to procedurally resign from their posts as part of a constitutional obligation designed to ensure a neutral election environment.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure for Portugal late on March 2, Davutoğlu was asked whether the government has designated replacements for the three ministers.

Referring to a cabinet meeting held earlier in the evening of March 2, Davutoğlu said this was the last cabinet meeting Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ, Interior Minister Efkan Ala and Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication Minister Lütfi Elvan would participate in.

“Upon a consultation we held with Mr. President [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] last week, we decided the current undersecretaries would oversee our three ministries until the upcoming election and assume the duties of the ministry,” Davutoğlu said, referring to the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7.
Accordingly, Kenan İpek will take over the Justice Ministry, Sebahattin Öztürk will take over the Interior Ministry and Feridun Bilgin will take over the Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication Ministry as of March 6, which is the deadline for the resignation of the current ministers, he added.

Article 114 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey orders these three key posts to be transferred to neutral figures during electoral period so as to provide a fair election campaign atmosphere for all parties.