Turkish Economy, Interior Ministers Quit over Corruption Scandal

ANKARA- Corruption scandals have hit the Turkish Justice and Development Party government under Recepe Tayyib Erdogan’s leadership, leading to the resignation of two ministers.

Turkey’s Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and Interior Minister Muammer Guler resigned Wednesday following a high-level corruption investigation in which their sons and businessmen were arrested, according to the Turkish media.

The sons of both ministers are among the two dozen people who have been charged as part of a high-level bribery and corruption probe that has hit Erdogan with the biggest challenge yet to his 11 years in power.

Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and Interior Minister Muammer Guler announced their resignations just hours after Erdogan returned from a trip abroad, expected to reshuffle his cabinet.

Erdogan’s government has responded to the investigation by sacking dozens of police chiefs.

“The operation, which started on December 17, is a clear setup against our government, our party [the ruling Justice and Development Party or AKP] and our country,” Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan claimed in a statement reported by the Anadolu news agency.

Interior Minister Muammer Guler told the agency that he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the day of the raids, but submitted it in writing Wednesday.

The environment minister’s son was also implicated in the scandal, and Erdogan has been under pressure to investigate the crimes amid calls from the opposition for him to step down. Many other officials and businessmen affiliated to the Turkish government were arrested.

The scandal has erupted just months ahead of Turkey’s local elections on March 30 that will include a contest for the control of Turkey’s largest city Istanbul and which are now being seen as a key indicator of where the political fault-lines lie throughout the country.

H. Mustafa