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