ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, announces his new Cabinet in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has approved a new government led by Davutoglu following the ruling party’s victory in Turkey’s Nov 1 election. Erdogan approved a Cabinet list presented by Davutoglu on Tuesday, hours after Turkey shot down a Russian plane it said violated its airspace and ignored repeated warnings.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
ANKARA: Turkish president on Tuesday approved a new government led by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, which is composed of several names close to the president, including his son-in-law.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Davutoglu to form a new government last week after the ruling Justice and Development Party — founded by Erdogan and led by him for more than a decade— made a strong comeback in Turkey’s Nov. 1 election. Erdogan’s son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, was appointed Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Davutoglu announced, in a news conference after his meeting with Erdogan. The Cabinet included other politicians known to be close to Erdogan, in a clear indication that the president would retain influence over the government.
Mevlut Cavusoglu was re-appointed to the post of foreign minister. The new Cabinet includes only two women who are in charge of the environment and of family affairs.
The ruling party regained the parliamentary majority it had lost in a vote in June. The Nov. 1 election was a re-run called by Erdogan after Davutoglu’s efforts for a coalition government failed.
Davutoglu was heading an interim government that was appointed to take Turkey to November vote.
Turkish media reports had suggested a rift between Erdogan and Davutoglu on who should lead the economy. Ali Babacan — reportedly favored by Davutoglu and who had presided over Turkey’s economy for the past 13 years — was left out of the Cabinet, in another indication that Erdogan had put his stamp on the new government.
