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Turkey's Erdogan appoints son-in-law as finance minister | Turkey's Erdogan appoints son-in-law as finance minister |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has named his son-in-law as the country's finance minister after being sworn in to another five-year term. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has named his son-in-law as the country's finance minister after being sworn in to another five-year term. |
The appointment of Berat Albayrak, who had served as energy minister since 2015, appeared to rattle the markets. | The appointment of Berat Albayrak, who had served as energy minister since 2015, appeared to rattle the markets. |
Mr Erdogan, who was re-elected last month, vowed to "propel our country forward" with his sweeping new powers. | Mr Erdogan, who was re-elected last month, vowed to "propel our country forward" with his sweeping new powers. |
But his opponents fear that his new role as executive president will destroy Turkish democracy. | But his opponents fear that his new role as executive president will destroy Turkish democracy. |
Mr Erdogan's new position marks a transition away from a parliamentary system and the office of prime minister, which has been in place since the foundation of the modern Turkish republic 95 years ago. | Mr Erdogan's new position marks a transition away from a parliamentary system and the office of prime minister, which has been in place since the foundation of the modern Turkish republic 95 years ago. |
It allows him to appoint ministers and vice-presidents and intervene in the legal system. | It allows him to appoint ministers and vice-presidents and intervene in the legal system. |
After taking the oath of office in parliament on Monday, Mr Erdogan told guests at the presidential palace in the capital, Ankara, that Turkey was "making a new start". | After taking the oath of office in parliament on Monday, Mr Erdogan told guests at the presidential palace in the capital, Ankara, that Turkey was "making a new start". |
"We are leaving behind the system that has in the past cost our country a heavy price in political and economic chaos," he said. | "We are leaving behind the system that has in the past cost our country a heavy price in political and economic chaos," he said. |
Erdogan - the arch polariser | Erdogan - the arch polariser |
By BBC Turkey correspondent Mark Lowen | By BBC Turkey correspondent Mark Lowen |
For 95 years, Turkey was a parliamentary republic, its Grand National Assembly the heart of power. No more. From Monday, it is a presidential republic under its omnipotent leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. | For 95 years, Turkey was a parliamentary republic, its Grand National Assembly the heart of power. No more. From Monday, it is a presidential republic under its omnipotent leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. |
Having won re-election, he has now become head of the executive, controlling the army and intelligence agency, able to issue decrees and choose most senior judges. | Having won re-election, he has now become head of the executive, controlling the army and intelligence agency, able to issue decrees and choose most senior judges. |
To his supporters, it is a stronger political system. To his opponents, it is one-man rule and the death of Turkish democracy. | To his supporters, it is a stronger political system. To his opponents, it is one-man rule and the death of Turkish democracy. |
Mr Erdogan is now the country's most powerful leader since Ataturk: modern Turkey's secular founding father, who saw Turkey as part of the west. | Mr Erdogan is now the country's most powerful leader since Ataturk: modern Turkey's secular founding father, who saw Turkey as part of the west. |
But President Erdogan has put religion at the heart of the country and has distanced it from the West. Few European leaders attended his inauguration - only those from Hungary and Bulgaria - with most from Africa and the Middle East: a sign of his geopolitical realignment. | But President Erdogan has put religion at the heart of the country and has distanced it from the West. Few European leaders attended his inauguration - only those from Hungary and Bulgaria - with most from Africa and the Middle East: a sign of his geopolitical realignment. |
Mr Erdogan is the arch polariser and views today are again divided. For some, it is the coronation of a new Turkey. For others, it's the dismantlement of Ataturk's republic. | Mr Erdogan is the arch polariser and views today are again divided. For some, it is the coronation of a new Turkey. For others, it's the dismantlement of Ataturk's republic. |
After news emerged of the appointment of Mr Erdogan's son-in-law, the Turkish lira lost more than 3% of its value. | |
Berat Albayrak, the 40-year-old husband of the president's eldest daughter, has had experience in government but his promotion has raised fears of nepotism at the top. | |
During the election he was reported to have complained that the sharp drop in the lira this year had been prompted by a "very open and clear operation" against Turkey. | |
It has also emerged that Mehmet Simsek, a former banker at Merrill Lynch who acted as deputy prime minister in Turkey's previous government, will not hold a position in the new cabinet. | |
In another key change announced by Mr Erdogan on Monday, military chief Gen Hulusi Akar was named as the new defence minister. | In another key change announced by Mr Erdogan on Monday, military chief Gen Hulusi Akar was named as the new defence minister. |
Meanwhile Mevlut Cavusoglu remains in his post as foreign minister. | Meanwhile Mevlut Cavusoglu remains in his post as foreign minister. |
Last month Mr Erdogan was re-elected with 53% of the vote. He has presided over a strong economy and built up a solid support base. | Last month Mr Erdogan was re-elected with 53% of the vote. He has presided over a strong economy and built up a solid support base. |
But he has also polarised opinion, cracking down on opponents and putting some 160,000 people in jail. | But he has also polarised opinion, cracking down on opponents and putting some 160,000 people in jail. |