ANKARA
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has thanked a rebel Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy who became the first MP to join his interim government.
Davutoglu had sent out invitations to 11 parliamentarians, offering them ministerial posts in the soon-to-be established caretaker government on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave Davutoglu the task of forming a provisional administration in the run-up to the November 1 election.
On Wednesday, the prime minister sent out invitations to five MPs from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), three from the MHP and three from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).
Tugrul Turkes accepted the deputy prime minister post in defiance of his party's instructions not to enter an interim administration.
"I thank once again, in the presence of you, Tugrul Turkes who said 'Yes'," Davutoglu said in a speech during an award ceremony in his Justice and Development (AK) Party headquarters in Ankara on Thursday.
Davutoglu stated Turkes had done what is necessary for the constitution and political ethics.
"He was under a lot of pressure but he resisted astutely," Davutoglu said. "Such periods reveal those who have responsibility for ethics and state ethics, as well as those who don’t. I told this to him after receiving the ‘yes’ answer."
"In such a period, if someone declines the ministry offer, it means that he/she evades this heavy responsibility. But if someone accepts this offer, such as Turkes, it shows that he/she seeks future of the country, not benefit."
There are 25 Cabinet portfolios available. Three positions -- justice, interior and transport -- are expected to be filled by independent candidates while 11 ministries would be available to the AK Party CHP, MHP and HDP.
The administration will oversee Turkey as it approaches a rerun of the June 7 general election.
‘Circle of fire’
PM Davutoglu also talked about Turkey’s recent military operations against the illegal Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) saying: "We fight against terror. Turkey is faced with probably the most critical security problem of the last 30 years, as a country that has a fire circle around it.
“There is global economic crisis. There are serious risks for the country's achievements that it won in the last 13 years. And we are faced with important confrontations with regard to the country's stability," he said.
Davutoglu said that Turkey made Daesh pay in Syria for killing 32 Turkish citizens, referring to a July 20 suicide bombing in the southeastern Suruc district which was blamed on the extremist group.
He said that Turkey had also made the PKK pay in Qandil [bases in northern Iraqi mountains] for killing Turkish citizens, soldiers and police.
"We are ready to make them pay again, if necessary. Everybody should know that we will never give up taking necessary steps for our country's peace and security." Davutoglu added.
Turkey has been carrying out operations against the PKK -- considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the EU and U.S. -- inside and outside Turkey since July 24.
