Hard choices for Erdogan as he mulls candidacy for president
Turkey is heading to uncharted territory of first direct presidential elections.
You have to hand it to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He is not one to mince his words whether he is hurling invective at his enemies or laying his future political intentions on the line.
He reportedly told deputies from his Justice and Development Party (AKP) last week, during a meeting convened at the party’s headquarters to discuss the upcoming presidential elections, that the future system of government in Turkey was, “de facto,” a presidential one where the president enjoys executive powers.
He is said to have based his argument on the fact that the president will be elected by the public for the first time. Previously presidents in Turkey were elected by parliament. On Aug. 10, a president is to be elected to a five-year term as the result of a constitutional amendment accepted in 2007.
Erdogan, whose remarks were widely quoted in the media, reportedly added that he would use his constitutional powers to the limit if elected president, even though he has not decided yet whether to run for the presidency or not.
