PM Davutoğlu: New gov't represents every color of Turkey

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Friday evening hailed the new Cabinet as representing "every color of Turkey." The provisional government, which will steer Turkey to a rerun of June's general election on Nov. 1, includes representatives from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), one deputy from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and two from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). The Republican People's Party (CHP) - the second largest in Parliament - has refused to join the Cabinet. "I believe that we have formed a good Cabinet where every color of Turkey has been represented," Davutoğlu told Habertürk news channel.

He denied the interim Cabinet was an AK Party body, insisting it was a "constitutional government."

Since last Tuesday to Friday, the prime minister has been making efforts to form a provisional government that will run Turkey until early elections are held on Nov. 1. The June 7 elections saw a stalemate with no party winning the majority necessary to form a single party government. Coalition talks between the AK Party and the other three parliamentary parties had not produced a result.

The first opposition member to agree to join the Cabinet was the MHP's Tuğrul Türkeş, despite his party's refusal to take part in the administration. He has been referred to the MHP's disciplinary committee for accepting a deputy prime minister post. "Türkeş said 'yes' to fulfill a duty in line with the Constitution as a deputy of the MHP and did not say 'yes' to joining the AK Party," Davutoğlu said.

The prime minister said he had personally prepared the list of ministers - approved by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday.

The HDP was given posts overseeing the ministries of EU affairs and development. One HDP lawmaker rejected the offer of joining the caretaker government.

Davutoğlu said the EU affairs portfolio, which also carries responsibilities as Turkey's chief negotiator on EU entry and was given to Ali Haydar Konca, would be "testing" and a "confrontation" for the EU.

"Some [EU member state] ministers who criticize Turkey and claim Turkey lacks freedoms will have contact with an HDP minister," he said. The appointment would demonstrate democracy in Turkey as the HDP has "the most contrary views in Turkey," Davutoğlu added.

The Prime Minister said Development Minister Müslüm Doğan's role would also prove challenging as it could bring the HDP into conflict with the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the EU and the U.S.

The HDP has campaigned for Kurdish rights and helped negotiations between the government and the PKK until renewed violence broke out last month. The PKK's armed campaign has seen the group target development projects such as dams and roads. "We will see whether they [the HDP] want real democracy or a fight between brothers erupts in Turkey in this two-and-a-half months [before the election]," Davutoğlu said.

Turning to the election, Davutoğlu said Turkey had experience of implementing "objective rules" during elections amid political violence - a reference to the country since the Kurdish conflict began in 1984. He said measures would be taken during the elections to prevent the PKK exerting influence on voters.

Asked about a possible electoral alliance with the Felicity Party (SP) that shares similar political roots with the AK Party, Davutoğlu said there were grounds for meeting and cooperating with other parties to unite around common goals.

Davutoğlu announced the list of members of the interim Cabinet at a press conference in Ankara which is as follows: Prime Minister - Ahmet Davutoğlu; Deputy Prime Minister - Yalçın Akdoğan; Deputy Prime Minister - Numan Kurtulmuş; Deputy Prime Minister - Cevdet Yılmaz; Deputy Prime Minister - Tuğrul Türkeş; Foreign Minister - Feridun Sinirlioğlu; EU Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator - Ali Haydar Konca; Minister of Family and Social Policies - Ayşen Gürcan; Minister of Justice - Kenan İpek; Minister of Science, Industry and Technology - Fikri Işık; Minister of Customs and Trade - Cenap Aşçı; Minister of Environment and Urban Planning - İdris Güllüce; Minister of Economy - Nihat Zeybekçi; Minister of Youth and Sports - Akif Çağatay Kılıç; Minister of the Interior - Selami Altınok; Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication - Feridun Bilgin; Minister of Labour and Social Security - Ahmet Erdem; Minister of Energy and Natural Resources - Ali Rıza Alaboyun; Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock - Kudbettin Arzu; Development Minister - Müslüm Doğan; Minister of Culture and Tourism - Yalçın Topçu; Minister of Finance - Mehmet Şimşek; Minister of National Education - Nabi Avcı; Minister of National Defense - Vecdi Gönül; Minister of Forest and Water Management - Veysel Eroğlu and Minister of Health - Mehmet Müezzinoğlu.