Removal of Turkish Anti-Graft Minister Stirs Fears
Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan, a former police commander with a reputation for leading from the front, was sacked on Tuesday night and transferred to the relatively junior post of minister overseeing customs operations.
His removal appeared to be a settling of scores within his Motherland Party.
Tantan pressed a drive against the corruption the European Union and International Monetary Fund see as one of the chief ills of Turkey's ailing economy. Turkey is struggling to meet IMF terms for a $15.7 billion rescue package.
His operations bore colorful names such "whale", "buffalo" and "white energy", the last reaching high into the Energy Ministry controlled by motherland and forcing the resignation of its minister.
Political sources said Tantan's replacement, part of a limited shake-up of motherland ministers, was not likely to lead immediately to any broader cabinet reshuffle.
Motherland is the smallest partner in the frail three-party government. Parliament voted last year not to pursue an investigation against its leader Mesut Yilmaz on misuse of power charges dating back to his time as prime minister in the 1990s.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has hinted at no changes in the lineup of his democratic left party ministers and there has been no sign of imminent change in the second-biggest party, the rightist Nationalist Action Party.
Markets opened almost three percent down on Wednesday morning, nervous over possible fallout from Tantan's removal. The lira weakened slightly.
"From the long-term point of view, Minister Tantan's probable resignation will be a negative development," said Serdar Orman of Demir investment.
Tantan, a stockily built grey-haired man with a youthful smile, has made no comment since the announcement on Tuesday night of his removal. He was due to make a final visit to the ministry on Wednesday.