Erdogan sacks trade minister, appoints two new ministers

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appointed three new members of his cabinet by decree, including Mehmet Mus as trade minister, replacing Ruhsar Pekcan, who has been accused of nepotism.

Presidential decrees on the appointments were published in the official gazette on Wednesday, where no explanation is given as to the reasons for the changes.

Pekcan admitted to having bought disinfectants from her family business for the ministry she headed until today, defending the purchase on Tuesday with the argument that the products of her husband's company are more competitive, both in terms of quality and price.

However, the decree does not mention the case, merely stating that the minister has been "removed" from her post and that Mus, a member of parliament from Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is the new trade minister.

In addition to this change, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services has been restructured following the resignation of its head, Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, so that it has now been split into two portfolios, Family and Social Services on the one hand, and Labour and Social Security on the other. Derya Yanik has been appointed minister for the former, and Vedat Bilgin will head the latter.

With this reshuffle, the number of women ministers in Erdogan's cabinet has been reduced from two to one.