Deputy PM Bozdağ appointed as new gov’t spokesperson

ANKARA

Former Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ, who was appointed as deputy prime minister last week in a government reshuffle, has been appointed as the new government spokesperson. 

Bozdağ held his first press conference as the spokesperson following a cabinet meeting after the reshuffle. Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım named legislator Abdulhamit Gül as the new justice minister. 

Bozdağ will be in charge of the Religious Directorate, the state-run Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) as well as the Public Diplomacy Agency. He will also handle relations with the parliament and the Council of State.

Former government spokesperson Numan Kurtulmuş was appointed as the culture and tourism minister.  

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek will continue his responsibility in coordinating the economy and the banking sector. In the previous government, managing the economy was under the helms of two deputy prime ministers. With these changes, Şimşek became the sole person in charge of the economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Işık will be responsible for overseeing the general investment environment in Turkey and following the government’s reform processes. 

Former Health Minister Recep Akdağ will deal with Cyprus-related issues of the government and will lead the disaster management agency AFAD as the deputy prime minister. 

Hakan Çavuşoğlu, who has been introduced to the government as a deputy premier, will be responsible for Turkish communities living abroad, foundations and Turkey’s Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA). He will also be responsible for planning and coordinating works to mark the centennial of the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 2023.