Erdogan names AK Party's new executive board members

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday named members of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Central Executive Board (MYK).

The 16-member strong MYK now has nine new names.

AK Party's new 50-member Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) had gathered in capital Ankara to determine the new MYK tasked with assisting Erdogan as the party's deputy chairmen.

Former Culture and Tourism Numan Kurtulmus was assigned as acting chairman while Omer Celik, former minister of Turkey's EU Affairs, is now AK Party's new spokesman.

Other MYK members include Hayati Yazici, Erkan Kandemir, Fatih Sahin, Vedat Demiroz, Ali Ihsan Yavuz, Mahir Unal, Cevdet Yilmaz, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, Mehmet Ozhaseki, Lutfi Elvan, Julide Sarieroglu, Hamza Dag, Leyla Sahin Usta and Cigdem Kararaslan.

Earlier Saturday, Erdogan was as head of AK Party after he secured the votes of 1,380 delegates at the party's 6th ordinary congress in capital Ankara.

A total of 29 new names were elected in the MKYK.

Central Disciplinary Board (MDK), Intra-Party Democracy and Arbitration Board, and Political Virtue and Ethics Board members were also determined by the delegates.