Turkish Environment Minister announces resignation, calls on PM Erdogan to quit
Turkish Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdogan Bayraktar announced his resignation from Cabinet and Parliament today, further calling on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resign amid a continuing graft investigation that has gripped the country, The Hurriyet Daily News reported.
Bayraktar joins Interior Minister Muammer Güler and Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, who also announced their resignations earlier today.
Bayraktar said most of the amendments on construction plans mentioned in the investigation had been made with Erdogan’s knowledge. He also added that he received pressure to submit his own resignation.
“I don’t accept the fact that I have received pressure. A resignation letter and a declaration were sent to us today. I consider this wrong in such a situation,” Bayraktar told private broadcaster NTV.
Twenty-four people have been arrested under the corruption investigation that rocked Turkey last week, including the sons of Güler and Çağlayan.
Bayraktar’s son was also among those detained under the investigation, but he was released pending trial on Dec. 21.