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

Published 2020-04-13 02:36:24

Updated 2025-09-18 10:19:45

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.

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Monika Walker

Monika Walker is a senior journalist specializing in regional and international politics, offering in-depth analysis on governance, diplomacy, and key global developments. With a degree in International Journalism, she is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices through factual reporting. She also covers world news across every genre, providing readers with balanced and timely insights that connect the Caribbean to global conversations.