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I literally screamed. https://twitter.com/p_zalewski/status/1249404636827656200
I’m so shook. Who will the new interior minister be? What will Süleyman Soylu do next?
Süleyman Soylu was, in the framing regarding the weekend curfew mess announced on Friday, stating that it was carried out "per the President's instructions". https://twitter.com/DailySabah/status/1249404624857071623
Here is Soylu's resignation statement. https://twitter.com/suleymansoylu/status/1249403093151887362 There are both reports that it has not been accepted by President Erdoğan yet, as well as different pro-gov't groups calling for Soylu's resignation NOT to be accepted.
I do not have any #hotcakes to offer yet, but I do have one observation grounded in reality: In Turkey (at least under the AKP), gov't ministers do *not* resign due to failures or incompetence. Soylu's resignation is a high stakes bet, not an admission of failure.
Erdoğan is in a tough spot: if he does not accept Soylu's resignation, Soylu will be seen as even more powerful due to his indispensability. If Erdoğan accepts Soylu's resignation, Soylu may established his own party, further weakening AKP after establishment of DEVA & GP.
Soylu has popularity in certain circles ought not be underestimated. His tenure as interior minister compared to his predecessor, Efkan Ala, has been successful (achieved by over-securitisation policies) - bombs going off in cities in no longer a daily worry.
Presidential Communication Office confirms that Süleyman Soylu offered his resignation as Interior Minister to President Erdoğan but that, it has not been accetped. Soylu will continue as Interior Minister. https://twitter.com/ntv/status/1249439636209815552
Soylu wins this high stakes power play. https://twitter.com/hasavrat/status/1249433351452274691
One effect of this Soylu resignation drama: news cycle has been dominated by it and will continue to be tomorrow, so any debate regarding how the weekend curfew was managed, mismanaged, COVID-19, etc. will take a backseat.
MHP leader Bahçeli (insert your own resurrection joke) has tweeted out statements in support of Soylu, expressing the party's satisfaction that his resignation has not been accepted. https://twitter.com/HaberturkTV/status/1249449103806906368
