Reshuffle Rumors

BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA
AKSAM- Various rumors are making the rounds of the capital, including ones of a Cabinet reshuffle. A new Parliament speaker and commission chairmen will be elected and people are also saying that a reshuffle will displace seven or eight ministers.
I wrote previously that only three ministers would be left out in the cold. A major reshuffle doesn’t seem to be in the cards for now. The change would not come before the New Year, and if it happens, three ministers would be dismissed and two would change seats. I don’t think there will be unexpected changes.
Reshuffle rumors first started when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took over the Cabinet from now Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. People predicted that Erdogan would establish his own Cabinet, but in fact he only replaced two ministers and switched two others. These reports were also discussed before the local elections this March. Some ministers have even worked harder out of fear of losing their posts. Thus, the ministers were doing their jobs better.
As for today, the rumors favor Erdogan. The ministers’ performances are getting better. On the other hand, deputies hoping to become ministers are coming up with new projects and trying to get into the leadership’s good graces.
There is also the issue of balances within the party. A fundamental change would shake up the ruling party and Erdogan wouldn’t allow this to happen, but one day a change in balances will be needed, and leadership will be seen then.