Turkish President Erdogan vows to advance governance system after being sworn in for new term

Ankara, July 10: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unveiled a new-look cabinet after being sworn in for a new term, with his son-in-law Berat Albayrak given the crucial post of Finance Minister.

 

In another key change announced by Erdogan yesterday, Army Chief General Hulusi Akar joins the government as Defence Minister but Mevlut Cavusoglu keeps the post of Foreign Minister. Suleyman Soylu stays on as Interior Minister while Fuat Oktay, a former head of Turkey's emergencies agency, has been named as the sole Vice President.

The cabinet is the first named by Erdogan under a new system that dispenses with the office of Prime Minister and concentrates powers under the President. Erdogan now sits at the top of a vertical power structure marked by a slimmed-down government with 16 ministries instead of 26 and multiple bodies reporting to him.

"In the new era, Turkey will improve in every field, including democracy, fundamental rights, freedoms, economy and large investments," Erdogan said in his speech at the presidential palace in the capital, Ankara.

"Turkey is leaving behind a system which cost the country politically, socially, economically," Erdogan told the crowd, comprised also of dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries.