Former interior minister Efkan Ala appointed AKP deputy leader responsible for foreign affairs

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has appointed former interior minister Efkan Ala as the deputy leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) responsible for foreign affairs. The appointment of Ala came after Naci Ağbal, ex-finance minister, replaced Murat Uysal as the head of the Central Bank governor and Lütfi Elvan's appointment as finance minister.

Duvar English

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has appointed former interior minister Efkan Ala as the deputy leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Ala, who was a Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) member, was appointed AKP deputy leader responsible for foreign affairs and a member of the Central Executive Board (MYK) on Nov. 10.

Ala served as the interior minister of Turkey for three years and resigned from his post in 2016. He was elected deputy in the 2018 parliamentary elections.

Being the interior minister when the peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was ongoing, Ala had been a controversial figure.

His resignation, which reportedly was handed upon Erdoğan's request, came after the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt.

The appointment of Ala came after Naci Ağbal, ex-finance minister, replaced Murat Uysal as the head of the Central Bank governor.

The issue reportedly is among the factors that triggered Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak's resignation, prompting Erdoğan, who is Albayrak's father-in-law, to appoint another former minister, Lütfi Elvan, to the post.

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