Hakan Fidan comes most recently from the post of head of the Turkish intelligence service, where he has been since 2010. Before that, Fidan was a personal adviser to Erdogan.
– This is a loyal person to Erdogan, someone who has been close to him for a long time, says Turkey expert Aras Lindh at the Foreign Policy Institute.
Swedish reactions
Carl Bildt, who was Sweden’s representative present at the ceremony, signs Twitter that during the evening he congratulated Hakan Fidan and new finance minister Mehmet Simsek on their “new and important positions”.
“We’ve known each other since before,” adds Bildt.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) also congratulates Hakan Fidan on the new role.
“Looking forward to a good collaboration between Sweden and Turkey,” Billström signs Twitter.
“Keeping Erdogan’s secrets”
Hakan Fidan has sometimes been called Erdogan’s right-hand man. Erdogan has previously openly defended Fidan, including during a controversy in 2012 when Fidan was investigated by the Turkish attorney general for participating in secret peace talks with the PKK.
Erdogan then came to Fidan’s rescue by rewriting the law to require the approval of the prime minister to investigate intelligence agents.
– He guards my secrets, he guards the state’s secrets, Erdogan said in 2012 about Fidan, according to Al Jazeera.
Stows about a lot
Erdogan is making major changes in the government. Only two ministers keep their seats, writes the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah.
Other changes in the government are that former Commander-in-Chief Yasar Güler will become the new Minister of Defense and Mehmet Simsek will become the new Minister of Finance.