President Erdoğan Rejects Minister of Interior's Resignation

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair has not accepted the resignation of Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, who earlier said in a tweet that he would leave office because of the panic caused by his short-notice announcement of a curfew for the weekend.

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Releasing a statement two-and-a-half hours after Soylu's tweet, the Directorate of Communications said that he will continue to serve as the Minister of Interior.

"Our Minister submitted his request for resignation to our President and our President expressed to him that he did not find this request appropriate. Submitting a resignation is at the discretion of the holder of an office, but the final decision belongs to our President," the statement read. "The resignation of our Minister of Interior has not been accepted, he will continue his duty."

Soylu's work during the coronavirus pandemic was also praised in the statement: "Our Minister of Interior has ensured with his successful work for more than a month that there is no problem regarding public security in our country during this period."

The statement also stressed that Soylu was appointed as the Minister of Interior after the failed coup attempt in July 2016 and "resolutely fought against terrorist organizations." (DB/VK)