By Ertugrul Ozkok
Hurriyet- ''According to information I got from AKP circles, Premier Erdogan's resubmission a name (Besir Atalay, as new minister of Education), which President Sezer earlier vetoed, is a strategical mistake'', wrote Ertugrul Ozkok, the columnist of Hurriyet daily, regarding the speculations of a 'no' by President Sezer to PM Erdogan who --reportedly-- was willing to shift his cabinet.
Ozkok says, ''as far as I understood, the real force behind the insistence on Besir Atalay was Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and not Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself. The reason may be that earlier Gul had suggested the name of Atalay.''
''On that point, a rare development happens in Turkish political scene. When talks at Cankaya Palace reached to an undesired stage, Premier Erdogan calls Gul on the phone and wants him to take part in the meeting.''
''On the other hand, I would like to comment also on Attila Koc, the newly appointed Tourism & Culture Minister,'' says Ozkok.
''Koc is an AKP member who is known with is highly conservative stance. Thus, an interesting reshuffle happens in cabinet. The most liberal name in the cabinet Erkan Mumcu leaves, and a very conservative politician joins the cabinet.
So, is AKP turning out to the core staff of 'Milli Gorus' (National Vision)? I hope not'', concludes Ozkok.