Turkish PM's initial step to be cabinet reshuffle after court ruling

Turkey's Constitutional Court rejected the demands to close the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in its critical decision issued on Wednesday.

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The Court, however, issued a serious warning to the Islamist-rooted party for becoming focal point of anti-secular activities. This ruling signals that it is now AKP's turn to take steps that it does not pose a threat to secular structure of the country.

The expectations are high that Erdogan could carry out a cabinet reshuffle and leave some radical names out.

Erdogan offered "a fresh start" with refreshing hopes, dreams and bounds in his address to the nation.

The AKP officials and observers say the expectations are high that Erdogan would shuffle the cabinet as a goodwill gesture for his call for a fresh start as well as a bid to reassure public confidence ahead of the local election in March 2009.

Some suggest that the winds of change would also effect the party administration.

COUPLE OF MINISTERS

AKP deputies are piling pressure on the Prime Minister and party administration for a cabinet shuffle.

According to the information leaked from the AKP, Education Minister Huseyin Celik, Energy Minister Hilmi Guler and Health Minister Recep Akdag are among the ministers who are expected to be replaced.

Celik, seen as one of the radical names in the cabinet, had been often criticized by former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the military.

Sezer had warned that the education system was under the influence of "religious sects and communities." The army slammed some Islamist practices in the public schools in its harsh statement in April 2007.

The recent incident in the central province of Konya might increase the pressure on Celik and put him back under the spotlight. In Konya at least seventeen kids were killed and twenty-seven others were injured when a dormitory belonged to a Quran course collapsed.

The issue of Quran courses is particularly very sensitive in Turkey as many question whethe those places go beyond their initial aims and teach students Sharia order instead of basic principles of Islam and criticize government for not running effective checks on them.

PARTY ADMINISTRATION

Some rumors suggest Erdogan could change his advisors and prominent names from his party administration.

If the speculations are accurate, the most important name would be Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, Deputy Chairman of the AKP.

Firat had undertaken a more active role both within the party and in the government policies since the general elections in 2007.

However he had been under fire since he said the Ataturk reforms “traumatized” the country.

Erdogan had previously rejected the demands for a cabinet and party administration reshuffles.