In a surprising move late Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan executed a mini-reshuffle within the Turkish government, replacing key ministers including the Justice Minister and Interior Minister. The Istanbul chief prosecutor, Akın Gürlek, has been appointed as the new Justice Minister, taking over from Yılmaz Tunç. Additionally, Erdoğan filled the Interior Ministry with Mustafa Cahit Şiğfci, the governor of the Erzurum province, succeeding Ali Yerlikaya.

The timing of this reshuffle is particularly noteworthy as it comes just hours before Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is scheduled to visit Ankara for the operations of the Higher Cooperation Council. This visit signifies an important diplomatic engagement between Turkey and Greece, and the changes within the Turkish cabinet may influence discussions and negotiations that are expected to take place during this meeting.

The implications of these ministerial changes could be significant, especially given the role of the Interior Minister in matters of national security and public order, as well as the Justice Minister's influence on legal reforms and the judiciary in Turkey. With the new appointments, Erdoğan seems to be positioning his government to handle upcoming challenges more adeptly, particularly in the context of his administration's ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic security and manage international relations more effectively.