The Heart Of The New Cabinet: The Economy
BY OKAN MUDERRISOGLU
SABAH- It seems the new Cabinet announced last Friday was built around three focuses: the economy, the fight against terrorism, and how regional diplomacy could affect global balances. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan combined the party's traditional identity and its new stars and experience and energy. Obviously, the economy is the heart of this new Cabinet revision.
There's a big expectation that this will address complaints about an 'out-of-touch economic management,' because coordination is set to not only bring together bureaucrats and non-governmental organizations and listen to them at length, but also act positively and ensure that decisions are made quickly. This would be a contrast from the last two years. Thus, Ali Babacan is now a 'super minister.' Nor is his new post a surprise. He has known for some time that he would be the economic boss again, just like he knew that he would be foreign minister in July 2007.
The economic program with International Monetary Fund support which has been delayed for a year now will determine the destiny of both the government and Turkey. The sticking point is in relations between Babacan and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. Simsek had an important role to play in the Justice and Development (AK) Party's international economic initiative before it came to power in fall 2002. Simsek has kept in contact with Babacan, who was treasury minister in 2002-2007, and was even recommended by Babacan to the Central Bank.
Financial policies will be at the center of the new economic program. After a successful economy minister like Kemal Unakitan, it won't be easy to be a penny pincher and win the heart of deputies. Babacan and Simsek's ties will play a vital role in implementing IMF prescriptions and convincing Erdogan. The impact of today's decisions will be seen in the next general elections in 2010 or 2011.
There are five important economic figures in the new Cabinet. One is Omer Dincer, the new labor minister and architect of the mentality revolution in the public administration. He is set to tackle unemployment. The second is Cevdet Yilmaz, who can manage the continuation of public investments and the transfer of resources to Turkey's poorest and so reassure the government. Zafer Caglayan, the third figure, can open alternative ways to shrinking world markets and thus lead Turkish firms thanks to his experience with industry, following Kursad Tuzmen, the 'brand name' of foreign trade.
Nihat Ergun, the fourth figure and the new industry and trade minister, can take the pulse of the industry, as he is also a deputy from Kocaeli. Taner Yildiz, the fifth figure and the new energy and natural resources minister, can revamp the ministry. President Abdullah Gul will also have a role in the reshuffled Cabinet. His close connections with the foreign, interior, economy, finance and energy ministers make him an actor in our transition from a semi-presidential system. As the president will be elected by popular vote in 2012, this issue will take on more importance.
