Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek was announced as Türkiye's new justice minister and Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi was appointed to lead the Interior Ministry on Tuesday, following presidential decrees published in the Official Gazette.
Gürlek replaces Yılmaz Tunç, who stepped down after requesting to be relieved of his duties, while Çiftçi succeeds Ali Yerlikaya.
In a statement, Yerlikaya said he was handing the Interior Ministry portfolio to his “dear brother” Mustafa Çiftçi, thanking President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the support he received during his tenure.
Outgoing Justice Minister Tunç also issued a statement, vowing to continue working “with the same enthusiasm as on the first day” for the nation’s future. He congratulated Gürlek on his appointment, wishing him “great success” in his new role.
Born in 1982 in Nevşehir, Gürlek graduated from Marmara University’s Faculty of Law in 2005. After serving as a judge in several provinces and districts, he was appointed head of the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court. While in that post, he became deputy justice minister on June 1, 2022, and was later named Istanbul chief prosecutor on Oct. 2, 2024.
Çiftçi, born in 1970 in Konya, graduated from Ankara University’s Faculty of Political Science in 1995 and joined the Interior Ministry as a district governor candidate the following year. He served as district governor in several provinces, held senior roles within the ministry and later worked at the Turkish Parliament as chief of staff and senior adviser. Çiftçi completed multiple graduate degrees in public administration and theology, and was appointed governor of Çorum in 2018 before becoming governor of Erzurum in August 2023.
