Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım held a press conference revealing Turkey’s 66th government. PAGEV president commented on the cabinet saying that ”We welcome the new cabinet as Industry . We are happy that Industry and Economy related ministeries have not changed. We will continue to work together with our ministeries, with our well built trust to achieve more successfull results for the Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industries”.
The Economy Team
A quick look at the new cabinet reveals a slight change to an otherwise intact team in charge of the economy.
While the distribution of duties has not been announced among the five Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM), Mehmet Şimşek, who retained his role as Deputy Prime Minister, is expected to become the sole DPM in charge of the economy.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli, who was in charge of major economic institutions like the Banking Supervisory and Regulatory Authority (BDDK), the Capital Markets Board (SPK), the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) and Eximbank has now been appointed as Minister of Defense.
Aside from a possible consolidation of economic decision-making under DPM Şimşek, all other Ministers in charge of various aspects of the Turkish economy have remained in position, including Nihat Zeybekci as Minister of Economy and Naci Ağbal as Minister of Finance. The decision comes following a first quarter GDP growth reaching 5 percent and ahead of a July 21 decision by Fitch on Turkey’s credit rating.
Sectoral Highlights
The new cabinet is expected to focus on reforms necessary to harmonize Turkey’s legal architecture with its new Constitution, which will go into effect in 2019. The most significant change comes to the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
• Healthcare
The architect of Turkey’s healthcare reform, Dr. Recep Akdağ has been named a Deputy Prime Minister, while Ahmet Demircan has now become the new Minister of Health. Dr. Demircan, a medical doctor from Samsun, is a former state Minister, who served in 1996 under the Welfare Party, AKP’s predecessor.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security, which houses Turkey’s Social Security Administration (SGK), will now be led by Jülide Sarıeroğlu, the second female minister and the youngest member of the new Cabinet.
• ICT
Ministers of Science, Technology & Industry, as well as Transport, Communications & Maritime remained unchanged, as Minister Özlü and Minister Arslan are expected to carry out government policies, including large infrastructure development projects that are already in place.
• Energy
The Minister of Energy has also remained unchanged. Mr. Berat Albayrak will continue to lead Turkey’s energy policy and implement previously disclosed priorities.
A complete list of Turkey’s new cabinet members can be seen below:
Deputy Prime Ministers
Deputy Prime Minister: Mehmet Şimşek
Deputy Prime Minister: Recep Akdağ (former Minister of Health)
Deputy Prime Minister: Bekir Bozdağ (former Minister of Justice)
Deputy Prime Minister: Fikri Işık (former Minister of Defense)
Deputy Prime Minister: Hakan Çavuşoğlu (new appointment)
Newly Appointed Ministers
Minister of Justice: Abdülhamit Gül (member of AKP Central Decision Making and Executive Council (MKYK))
Minister of Labor and Social Security: Jülide Sarıeroğlu (member of MKYK, replacing Mehmet Müezzinoğlu)
Minister of Youth and Sports: Osman Aşkın Bak (replacing Akif Çağatay Kılıç)
Minister of Health: Ahmet Demircan (replacing Recep Akdağ)
Minister of Food, Agriculture & Livestock: Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba (replacing Faruk Çelik)
Shuffled Positions
Minister of Defense: Nurettin Canikli (former Deputy Prime Minister) Minister of Culture and Tourism: Numan Kurtulmuş (former Deputy Prime Minister)
Unchanged Positions
Minister of Interior: Süleyman Soylu
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Minister of EU Affairs: Ömer Çelik
Minister of Family and Social Policies: Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya
Minister of Environment and Urban Development: Mehmet Özhaseki
Minister of Development: Lütfi Elvan
Minister of Economy: Nihat Zeybekci
Minister of Finance: Naci Ağbal
Minister of Customs and Trade: Bülent Tüfenkci
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources: Berat Albayrak
Minister of Transport, Communications & Maritime: Ahmet Arslan
Minister of Science, Technology & Industry: Faruk Özlü
Minister of Education: İsmet Yılmaz
Minister of Forestry and Water Works: Veysel Eroğlu
