Politics of Turkey

A parliamentary inquiry commission will decide today whether to send four former ministers engulfed in the massive corruption and graft operation that was launched on Dec. 17, 2013, to the Supreme Council for trial.

At first sight it seems that Turkey has turned into a great play of political vaudeville theater. Most recently, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that he will chair Cabinet meetings after he was elected head of state. After a period of speculation, the president finally said the last word as usual and declared that he would chair a Cabinet meeting in the Presidential Palace on Jan. 19.

Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu diagnosed the Supreme Court as "the main element of a structure which plotted against the ruling party," and implied that they will not vote for the four ministers to be tried before the Supreme Court due to the graft allegations in a recent interview.

Turkey continues to grow in a stable manner, despite the negative conditions surrounding it, said Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan at an award ceremony on Jan. 3.

The Turkish Navy will launch an expedition to commemorate the sinking of an Ottoman frigate on a goodwill voyage to Japan in 1890.

The expedition will follow a route through the Indian Ocean to reach Japan, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Jan. 3.

Turkey's Syriac community will build a new church in the Yeşilkoy neighborhood of Bakırkoy district in Istanbul, an area close to Atatürk Airport, prime ministry officials have said. Turkey's Syriac community will build a new church in the Yeşilkoy neighborhood of Bakırkoy district in Istanbul, an area close to Atatürk Airport, prime ministry officials said Jan. 2.

As 2014 was the year of presidential and local elections, 2015 will be the year of parliamentary elections: The last chain of three votes that will have overhauled the entire Turkish political system.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has called on Turkey's non-Muslim community leaders to raise their voice against Islamophobia and all forms of discrimination during a meeting in Istanbul on Jan. 2.

An Ankara court conducted its first hearing on Jan. 2 in a case into the illegal wiretapping of former Prime Minister, now President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s offices, with some of the leader?s top guards accused of planting bugs to eavesdrop on Erdo?an.

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s daughter, adviser and confidante, Sümeyye Erdo?an, may run for Parliament from the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the party?s deputy head Süleyman Soylu suggested on Jan. 2, in a statement likely to trigger debate.