- Title: Key economy figures kept in new Turkish cabinet, Erdogan keeps influence
- Date: 24th May 2016
- Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (FILE) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NURETTIN CANIKLI, APPOINTED NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, CASTING BALLOT AT POLLING STATION
- Embargoed: 8th June 2016 11:15
- Keywords: Turkey parliament cabinet AK Party Simsek
- Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
- City: ANKARA, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0054J630P3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Key members of Turkey's economic management team kept their posts in a new cabinet announced on Tuesday (May 24), reassuring nervous financial markets, but around half of the government was reshuffled as President Tayyip Erdogan tightens his grip.
Newly appointed Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced his cabinet members in Ankara, naming Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek as one of five deputy prime ministers. Though an anchor of investor confidence, it was not immediately clear whether Simsek would retain overall responsibility for the economy. Finance Minister Naci Agbal also kept his position.
Sources in Erdogan's office said he would chair the first meeting of the new cabinet in his palace on Wednesday (May 25).
The lira firmed to 2.98 against the dollar after the announcement by Yildirim, from below 3.00 beforehand, reflecting investor relief that Simsek had retained his position.
Nihat Zeybekci, a close Erdogan ally, returned as economy minister, a post he had held until last November. Erdogan's son-in-law Berat Albayrak kept his position as energy minister.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also remains in post, but former AK Party spokesman Omer Celik becomes the new EU minister at a critical time in Turkey's relations with Europe.
Erdogan on Sunday (May 22) confirmed Yildirim, a close ally for two decades and a co-founder of the ruling AK Party, as his new prime minister, ensuring government loyalty as he pursues constitutional change to replace Turkey's parliamentary democracy with an executive presidency. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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