Did Erdogan undermine Gul? - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Semih Idiz

Semih Idiz

Mar 10, 2015

Turkey's new President Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L) and outgoing President Abdullah Gul (R), attend a handover ceremony at the Presidential Palace of Cankaya in Ankara August 28, 2014. Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey's 12th president at a ceremony in parliament on Thursday, cementing his position as the country's most powerful modern leader, in what his opponents fear will herald an increasingly authoritarian rule. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR444TR — Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L) and outgoing President Abdullah Gul (R) during a handover ceremony at Cankaya Palace in Ankara, Aug. 28, 2014. — REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Turkey's President-elect Tayyip Erdogan (R) and incoming prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu leave the stage together during the Extraordinary Congress of the ruling AK Party (AKP) in Ankara August 27, 2014. Erdogan said on Wednesday he would ask Davutoglu to form a new government on Thursday, and a new cabinet of ministers would be announced the following day. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR43Z11

Will Davutoglu ever emerge from Erdogan's shadow?

Semih Idiz

A member of security forces watches as Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan casts a shadow as he addresses to supporters in front of the party headquarters in Ankara August 10, 2014. Erdogan secured his place in history as Turkey's first directly elected president on Sunday, sweeping more than half the vote in a result his opponents fear heralds an increasingly authoritarian state. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR41WAO

Erdogan’s presidential ambitions face uphill battle

Semih Idiz

Former European Affairs minister Egemen Bagis (R, rear row) and former Environment and City Planning minister Erdogan Bayraktar (L) attend a debate at the Turkish parliament in Ankara January 20, 2015. The parliament is due to vote on Tuesday on whether to commit four former ministers, including Bagis and Bayraktar, for trial over corruption allegations. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) - RTR4M6MI

Erdogan stirred, not shaken, by corruption vote

Semih Idiz

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul (C), Sports Minister Cagatay Kilic (L) and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu (R) pray during the funeral ceremony of Besiktas Sports Club honorary president Suleyman Seba in Istanbul August 15, 2014. Former Turkish national soccer player and Besiktas Sports Club's honorary president Seba died on Wednesday at age 88 in Istanbul. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION OBITUARY SPORT SOCCER) - RTR42K5U

No room for Gul in Erdogan's Turkey

Cengiz Candar