Turkey is considering cutting the number of ministers in its crowded cabinet as part of measures to downsize the public sector under an IMF-backed program to overcome severe economic strains, a minister said Friday, November 23.
"We are evaluating (a plan) to decrease the number of government ministers from 38 to 20-22 and also to merge some institutions and abolish others within the framework of the restructuring program," Tourism Minsiter Mustafa Tasar said in the northwestern city of Bursa, Anatolia news agency reported.
Last week, Turkey pledged to cut public spending as part of strengthened reforms in return for a fresh loan from the International Monetary Fund to close a financial gap of some $10 billion. Initial measures were aimed at reducing the number of public employees, limiting wage increases and social benefits, introducing new tax adjustments and ending non-profit pricing in state enterprises. Details of the deal with the IMF and subsequent flow of aid will be discussed in December when an IMF team visits Ankara.
Turkey's public sector has long been under fire for being overstaffed, cumbersome and inefficient. Calls for downsizing have increased since February when a severe financial turmoil hit Turkey, sending the economy into one of its worst ever recessions. — (AFP, Ankara)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
