Erdogan fires trade minister amid scandal, reshuffles cabinet
In a pair of midnight decrees Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan over an alleged nepotism scandal and began a long-rumored cabinet reshuffle.
ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Recep Erdogan began a long-rumored cabinet reshuffle Wednesday, dismissing two ministers and appointing three, with more high-level appointments expected in the coming weeks.
In a late-night decree, Erdogan fired Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, who faced accusations of nepotism following a report Friday alleging she favored her spouse’s company in government tenders. According to the OdaTV news site, Pekcan directed the Trade Ministry to purchase 9 million liras' ($1.1 million) worth of disinfectants from two companies owned by her husband, Hasan Pekcan.
In a statement Tuesday, Pekcan denied any wrongdoing. She confirmed the purchases but said they amounted to about 500,000 liras ($61,000) in total, adding the tenders were allocated according to regulations and her spouse’s companies were chosen because they offered the lowest bids.
With no reason officially given for the dismissal, Pekcan was replaced Wednesday by Mehmet Mus, a parliament member for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) who reportedly has close relations with former finance minister and Erdogan’s son-in-law Berat Albayrak.
