Turkey’s Erdogan refuses minister’s resignation over pandemic response

Monday, 13th April 2020

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday rejected the resignation of his interior minister over his approach of an abrupt nationwide lockdown that led to panic buying.

Suleyman Soylu’s resignation had not been accepted, said a statement from Erdogan. “He is going to proceed to carry out his functions,” he added.

Soylu came in for intense criticism after a 48-hour nationwide shutdown to counter the spread of the coronavirus was announced on Friday night with just two hours’ notice, sparking panic-buying.

Monika Walker

Monika Walker is an experienced journalist specializing in global political developments and international relations. With a keen eye for accuracy and analysis, Monika has been reporting for over a decade, bringing stories to light that matter to readers around the world. She holds a degree in International Journalism and is passionate about giving a voice to underrepresented communities through factual reporting.