Coronavirus: Erdogan rejects interior minister's resignation over lockdown chaos
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused to accept the resignation of Suleyman Soylu after the interior minister's decision to impose a weekend lockdown in cities with little prior notice sparked a wave of panic buying.
"The minister submitted his resignation to the president and the president has informed him that he did not approve that request," a statement from the presidency read.
"Whereas it is the office holder's prerogative to submit their resignation, the ultimate decision lies with the president. The interior minister's resignation has not been accepted. He shall continue to perform his duties."
Soylu resigned earlier on Sunday after an abrupt lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, announced with two hours' notice, sparked panic buying across the country.
"May my country, which I never wished to hurt, and our president, to whom I will be faithful all my life, forgive me," Soylu was quoted by Reuters as saying in a statement tendering his resignation.
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On Friday evening, the interior ministry announced a 48-hour confinement in Turkey's 30 largest cities only hours before it was due to take effect, AFP said.
In the brief time before the lockdown went into effect, crowds of people failing to respect social distancing rules rushed out to buy food and drink in the country's commercial hub Istanbul, a city of 16 million people, and in many other cities.
The government came under harsh criticism from the opposition and on social media for endangering the lives of thousands.
"Although in a limited period of time, the incidents that occurred ahead of the implementation of the curfew were not befitting the perfect management of the outbreak process," Soylu said in his statement.
The lockdown decision was taken with good intention and aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, Soylu said.
The lockdown was due to end at 2100 GMT on Sunday.
As of Sunday, Turkey's death toll from Covid-19 had risen to 1,198, with more than 56,956 confirmed cases since the first patient was diagnosed a little over a month ago.
Transport Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan was removed two weeks ago after the ministry drew criticism for holding a tender during the outbreak to prepare to build a huge canal on the edge of Istanbul.
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