Turkish media say that the son of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will probably be the next target of a high-level graft probe that has led to a cabinet reshuffle.
Several Turkish newspapers said on Thursday that the corruption scandal was anticipated to get closer to Erdogan’s inner circle.
The opposition Cumhuriyet daily said an “earthquake” might happen as prosecutors are now focusing on an NGO connected to Erdogan’s son, Bilal.
The daily also said the prosecutors pressured police to probe construction tenders given to the NGO by an Istanbul municipality, whose mayor has been involved in the graft investigation.
The mayor, who is a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), was arrested last week, but later freed from prison pending a trial.
On Wednesday, the Premier announced a major cabinet reshuffle after three ministerial resignations over the corruption inquiry. Two of the ministers resigned after their sons were detained.
Erdogan replaced 10 ministers including the economy, interior, and environment ministers.
The crisis erupted on December 17, after dozens of government officials and prominent businessmen close to Erdogan were arrested on graft charges.
Erdogan, however, responded to the inquiry by dismissing dozens of police chiefs. He described the probe as an “ill-intentional move of local and foreign actors” aimed at toppling his government.
The investigation is being widely interpreted as a challenge to the authority of Erdogan, who boasts of being pro-business and has pledged to root out corruption.