Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey

Former Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ, who was appointed as deputy prime minister last week in a government reshuffle, has been appointed as the new government spokesperson. 

Bozdağ held his first press conference as the spokesperson following a cabinet meeting after the reshuffle. Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım named legislator Abdulhamit Gül as the new justice minister. 

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) brought together prominent party figures, past and present, in a bid to mobilize them ahead of the April 16 referendum on shifting Turkey to an executive presidential system, though former President Abdullah Gül and former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu were not present at the meeting. 

Ankara is set to ask Washington to arrest the U.S.-resident Islamist preacher Fethullah Gülen, accused of masterminding the bloody July 15 coup attempt, in order to "isolate" him from his network, while legal proceedings on the demand to extradite Gülen continue, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş has told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu did not ask for much actually while getting prepared for the Justice and Development Party?s (AK Parti) congress on Sept. 12. After being handpicked by President Tayyip Erdo?an to succeed him as the chairman of the AK Parti and as the prime minister after Erdo?an?s election as president on Aug.

Turkey?s former President Abdullah Gül said through an aide on May 26 that he has turned down an invitation from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), of which he was a key founder, to join a rally in Istanbul on May 30, just a week before the critical June 7 general election.

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s continued harsh criticisms of the Central Bank have raised concerns about the future of its governor, Erdem Ba?ç?, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, both of whom are widely respected among global market players. Speculations about the possible resignation of both Ba?ç?

The timing of a lengthy meeting between Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan late Feb. 25 has led to speculation suggesting Babacan resigned from his post after President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an continued his criticism of the Central Bank.

Yet, Energy Minister Taner Y?ld?z ruled out such move.

Turkey has slashed its growth estimates and raised its inflation forecast for 2014 and 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said

Bulgaria's interim Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki is expected to announce the names of the caretaker deputy ministers and political advisers on Monday, August 11.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Caretaker Deputy PM for Economy, will work with a team of seven people. Yordan Hristoskov, Caretaker Deputy PM for Social Policy, is expected to have an office of five people.