Conflicts within Turkey’s cabinet throw light on Erdogan’s confusion

Mahmud al-Batakoshi

A state of confusion is reigning in around Turkey after Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu submitted his resignation against the background the curfew that was imposed nationwide as of April 12.

The same resignation puts Turkey’s political future and stability in uncertainty.

Conflicts

The resignation of the interior minister throws light on the presence of conflicts between some of the members of the Turkish cabinet, especially between the interior minister and Berat Albayrak, the minister of finance and a son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Albayrak, an influential figure inside the Turkish cabinet, has a habit of getting rid of his opponents inside the cabinet. Soylu is probably his next target.

Soylu is a member of the top leadership of the ruling Justice and Development Party. He is a member of the deep Turkish state. The minister also maintains good relations with the ultraconservative Nationalist Movement Party. These are things that apparently make Albayrak worried. Albayrak believes Soylu is a strong rival when it comes to his ambition to reach the top of the ruling party or even succeed Erdogan.

Pelican Gang

The rumors that swirled soon after Soylu submitted his resignation unveils the involvement of what is known as the “Pelican Gang” in elbowing the interior minister out of the political stage in Turkey.

The gang is made up of a bunch of officials allied to the finance minister.

It encouraged its electronic committees and media to lash out at the interior minister and heap praise on the finance minister.

The Turkish newspaper, Daily Sabah, which backs the finance minister, also joined in the criticism of the interior minister.

The newspaper especially criticized his decision to impose the nationwide curfew and described it as a “wrong step”.