Erdogan Convenes Cabinet in Move Not Seen in Turkey Since 1993
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be the first Turkish president to chair a cabinet meeting since 1993 today, carrying through on his vow to transform the traditionally ceremonial position into an executive office.
Ahmet Davutoglu, handpicked by Erdogan to replace him as prime minister last August, has rebuffed criticism from the opposition that the move undermines Turkey’s parliamentary system, where executive powers constitutionally lie with the government. Davutoglu on Jan. 14 said that Erdogan’s chairing of the cabinet should be evaluated as “natural” and as a move to establish continuity in the ruling of Turkey.