TURKEY'S PRESIDENT LEAVES NEW CABINET'S APPROVAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002133 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2017 TAGS: PGOV TU SUBJECT: TURKEY'S PRESIDENT LEAVES NEW CABINET'S APPROVAL TO SUCCESSOR Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Kelly Degnan for reasons 1.4( b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary and comment. In what many saw as a final insult and others called a gracious gesture, President Sezer told PM Erdogan to present his new cabinet to the next president for approval. Erdogan, who admitted being surprised by the move, played it as an outgoing president deferring to his replacement. Others were not as generous and viewed Sezer's action as an embarrassing rebuff. Although Erdogan had publicly stated on August 15 that he planned to present the cabinet list the next day, Sezer waited until their meeting refuse to review the nominations. Whether gracious or rude, the hiccough is another bump in the road as Erdogan's party takes the reins of the government, parliament and soon, presidency. The new administration will have to wait at least two weeks before getting to work on an ambitious agenda. End summary and comment. A BUMPY RIDE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Since Sezer re-appointed Erdogan prime minister and gave him the mandate to form a government on August 6, debate has centered on whether Erdogan would present his cabinet list to Sezer for approval or wait for the new president. Sezer has a long history of vetoing government appointments during the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) last administration, including at least one proposed minister in the 2002 cabinet submission. Commentators had speculated that Erdogan would withdraw his list if Sezer rejected any names and resubmit it to the new president. ¶3. (SBU) Erdogan told the press on August 15 that he would submit his ministers for Sezer's approval the next day. Rather than notify Erdogan in advance to wait for the next president, Sezer surprised everyone, including Erdogan, by informing him at their meeting. Before Erdogan could present his nominations, Sezer essentially told him not to bother. Leaving the short meeting, Erdogan spun it to waiting press as a positive gesture, not a rejection or a protest by Sezer against the incoming government. Others viewed it as a pointed rebuke, and criticized Erdogan for acting as if Sezer should rubberstamp the list. Erdogan has until September 22 to form his government, 45 days after the Speaker's election on August 9. THE MYSTERY LIST -------------- ¶4. (U) Erdogan declined to discuss his nominations, stating the list of 24 names may change. The cabinet is expected to include new faces along with some familiar ones, in keeping with Erdogan's efforts to give his second administration a fresh, more centrist look. AKP contacts indicate FM Gul will be included as Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. If Gul is elected president later this month as expected, Ali Babacan will likely move from spearheading EU accession to Foreign Minister. Until Gul's election, Babacan will be listed as a State Minister. Energy Minister Hilmi Guler is rumoured to become a Deputy Prime Minister, with Ali Bayramoglu and Ertugrul Gunay as State Ministers. Binali Yildirim (now Transportation Minister) or Veysel Eroglu would take over as Energy Minister, if Guler moves on, and Idris Naim Sahin or Murat Basesgioglu would replace Osman Gunes as Interior Minister. Kemal Unakitan would retain the Finance Ministry and Vecdi Gonul would remain as Defense Minister, according to press reports. ¶5. (U) After consolidating some ministries in his last administration, Erdogan plans to add and reorganize a few agencies this time. The Culture Ministry will be split from the Ministry of Tourism, and a new Economy Ministry may be created. The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry will also be divided. A Ministry of Local Administrations and a Science and Technology Ministry will be established to improve cooperation with EU authorities and implement national policies. A deputy prime minister may be assigned as Coordination Minister for central management of economy related departments. Former Merrill Lynch advisor Mehmet Simsek may take this position or head the new Economy Ministry. ¶6. (U) Two or three women MPs are rumoured to be on the list. Nimet Cibukcu may hold on to Women's Affairs and Edibe Sozen ANKARA 00002133 002 OF 002 is rumoured for the public affairs ministry or Tourism. Selma Kavaf may take over the Culture Ministry. One old face that apparently will not be included is former Speaker Bulent Arinc, who reportedly has little chance of landing the Justice Minister position he prefers. Several senior party leaders are hoping for cabinet positions, including former Whip Salih Kapusuz, Saban Disli, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin and Education Minister Huseyin Celik. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY