Erdogan Names New Justice and Interior Ministers in Reshuffle

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appointed Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek as justice minister and Erzurum Governor Mustafa Ciftci as interior minister on Wednesday, in the first cabinet reshuffle since the 2023 elections. The move, announced in the Official Gazette, immediately sparked a physical altercation in parliament as opposition lawmakers attempted to block Gurlek's swearing-in, highlighting deep divisions over his role in high-profile investigations targeting the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP.

The appointments took effect during handover ceremonies in Ankara. At the Justice Ministry, Gurlek replaced Yilmaz Tunc, who praised past constitutional and legislative reforms aimed at bolstering Turkey's democratic legal framework. Tunc described public office as a trust from the nation and expressed confidence in Gurlek's ability to advance judicial initiatives. Gurlek, in turn, thanked Erdogan for the nomination and pledged to continue reforms focused on accelerating court processes, enhancing legal certainty, and combating crime. He emphasized collaboration with the judiciary, academia, bar associations, and civil society to strengthen the...