Recent reports claimed disagreements within the ruling Justice and Development Party following corruption and trafficking allegations that surfaced against Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.
Sources close to the party revealed that disagreement erupted within the party, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, regarding whether Soylu should remain in position after fugitive mobster Sedat Peker revealed the minister’s involvement in making Turkey an international hub for drug trafficking.
Turkish “Khalq-TV” website quoted sources as saying that the party’s deputies expressed concerns to Erdogan about the impact of Peker’s allegations against Soylu on the party’s popularity and future.
Erdogan responded that Peker “is not on our agenda”; however, he is waiting for the right time to oust Soylu, according to the sources.
Soylu has not been removed from his position or resigned so far because the head of the Nationalist Movement Party supports him, an ally of Erdogan, Devlet Bahceli.
Peker confirmed in a series of tweets on Saturday that Soylu is involved in corrupt operations, describing him as the “worst person in the world” and that he is “the devil.”
He named Soylu’s partners and recalled their scandals. He also announced that Yuksel and Orhan Ozyurt are the secret partners of the minister, who own several properties around Istanbul.
The Ozyurt brothers won all tenders in Esenyurt through Soylu, saying: “You stole and stole, but you were not satisfied.”
“Suleyman... you will go to prison. The state will confiscate the money you put in secret vaults, gathered with the help of your secret partners. In this way, our country will be rich.”
The brothers chair an association in Istanbul that supports Soylu's political work, and they hand over stolen money from the state treasury to one of his advisors, said Peker.
“These two brothers carry money in a white (Range Rover) and a black Mercedes and deliver the money either to the advisor or to Soylu's son.”
