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Whispers in Ankara identify potential Erdogan rival in Soylu

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rejection of his most popular minister’s resignation has led to questions about the new balance of power in Ankara amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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A few minutes after Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu posted his emotional resignation on Twitter, I received a call from a senior bureaucrat in Ankara. When asked about the resignation, he said, “Forget about the curfew and its implications. That decision was approved by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But this resignation tweet is Coriolanus' nightmare, when the best soldier in your army turns against you.”

Is Erdogan facing a potential rival in Soylu? 

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