President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has conducted a limited cabinet reshuffle today, appointing new ministers for the interior and justice ministries. Akın Gürlek, the chief public prosecutor of Istanbul, has been appointed as the new Minister of Justice, replacing Yılmaz Tunç. Mustafa Çiftçi, the governor of Erzurum, is the new Minister of the Interior, succeeding Ali Yerlikaya. The motivations behind this cabinet change remain unclear, especially following the resignation of the two former ministers.

Gürlek's appointment as Minister of Justice is notable given his controversial history as the chief prosecutor of Turkey's largest city, where he had previously issued an arrest warrant against Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, resulting in widespread protests and accusations of political motives from opposition parties. İmamoğlu, a leading figure in the main opposition party, was only a few days away from announcing his candidacy for the 2028 presidential elections prior to this incident, making the timing particularly suspect.

Since taking office in October 2024, Gürlek has been criticized by opponents for targeting Erdogan's political rivals. Reports indicate that more than 15 mayors from the opposition Republican People's Party have been detained on corruption charges, many of which are denied by the accused. This cabinet reshuffle may reflect Erdogan's ongoing consolidation of power and efforts to manage the political landscape as Turkey approaches the next electoral cycle.