The management of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is to be determined by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), claimed Dilek Güngör, a columnist writing for the staunchly pro-Erdoğan Sabah newspaper, in her column on Saturday.
Güngör, who relied on her sources in Ankara for information, argued that provincial and district organizations of the AKP in particular are most likely to experience a major reshuffle based on intelligence received from MİT.
“You know that when he headed the party President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan asked the ministers in his cabinet to submit a report in 180 days evaluating their performance. These were submitted to him. According to rumors, the president will make an assessment based on these reports. The ministers with lower grades might have to leave. But it is also said that a major shakeup is not expected in the cabinet except four or five ministers,” said Güngör.
“The major reshuffle is expected in the local organizations. I heard that many agencies including MİT and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board [MASAK] were assigned to scrutinize provincial and district organizations and local management. This means not only the public perception and the success and failure reports but also reports on the corruption of people in local management will be presented to Erdoğan,” added Güngör.
Erdoğan implied a reshuffle in the party after an April 16 constitutional referendum. According to Güngör, Erdoğan asked for a detailed account and is awaiting outcome of the reports before he starts with revision to the cabinet and local organizations.