Leader of Turkey's Ruling Party Announces New Cabinet

The newly elected leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Binali Yildirim, announced the new Turkish government on Tuesday after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

This development comes after Yildirim was elected as leader of AKP at the party's congress on Sunday, succeeding former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who had decided to not run for reelection.

Yildirim, who served as transport minister in the cabinet of Davutoglu, is one of the most loyal supporters of Erdogan and is expected to work towards turning Turkey in a presidential republic.

Following the party congress, Erdogan entrusted the newly elected leader with forming the new government.

The new cabinet is to hold its first meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara on Wednesday, chaired by Erdogan himself, Hurriyet Daily informs.

The new cabinet, which will be subject to parliamentary approval later this week, will have five deputy prime ministers.

Yalcin Akdogan, who held the position of deputy prime minister in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and was closely involved in the collapsed Kurdish peace process, has not been included in the new cabinet.

There have not been major changes to the economy administration, with Mehmet Simsek expected to continue to serve as Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the economy.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Interior Minister Efkan Ala, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag have all retained their respective portfolios.

The former economy minister Mustafa Elitas will be replaced by Nihat Zeybekci, while Omer Celik has been named as the new EU affairs minister and chief negotiator succeeding Volkan Bozkir.

Upon assuming...