I could feel the sincerity in his words when he said it didn’t matter if he were prime minister or president. His determined leadership character validated my opinion. But why has Mr. Erdoğan communicated mixed signals about his candidacy? Because he is fully aware of the capabilities of the opposition against his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) during this slow and dreadful process. I personally believe that in Turkey the team of Erdoğan, Parliament Speaker Bülent Arınç and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül team know politics the best. They are handling this process very cautiously and wisely. Erdoğan is sending messages that he could run for president to attract everyone’s attention. Once he realized that his tactic was working he continued to reinforce it. No one knows who the real candidate will be and so defamation campaigns could not be prepared. I assume he will announce the candidate on the very last day of the process. Don’t forget that last week he told journalists the candidate could be a surprise. I wonder if the surprise will be Gül?I say Gül for a few important reasons. Firstly, if Mr. Erdoğan says “I am not the candidate,” Gül is one of two names that will satisfy citizens that support Erdoğan and want him to become president. The other name is Arınç. It is certain a new wave of excitement will rise from the synergy to be formed if Gül takes his place in Çankaya and Erdoğan takes his place in the prime ministry.
Secondly, Turkey’s most important domestic and foreign development in the next seven years is EU membership. This target is not only historical for Turkey but also indispensable. It would be best if the president was someone who is determined about the EU bid and is trusted by European leaders during that process. That person is Gül. While he has managed to create a successful state leader image in the Foreign Ministry, he would also be deemed appropriate by AK Party opponents. The nation will take a deep breath if Gül is nominated as a candidate. I find Mr. Gül’s state leader character very important. To accelerate Turkey’s economic and political improvement, Turkey’s intellectual powers will want someone like Gül, who is recognized by world leaders, tolerant, experienced and a dynamic state leader.
Thirdly, Erdoğan and Gül are like brothers. In my article “Sezer’s jest,” which I wrote as an April Fool’s joke, I imagined President Ahmet Necdet Sezer giving a dinner reception for ministers and their wives. Many readers liked that article, especially since the public misses such events. That dream would come true if Gül became president. Just imagine Erdoğan and Gül at the Çankaya palace; the president and prime minister with their kids and grandkids having dinner together. Wouldn’t such a picture excite Turkey?
While Erdoğan could very easily become president, he will nominate his friend as a presidential candidate and go down in history as the politician who sacrificed himself. He will be proud and happy to be able to say, “I did the right think for my country, for my state, for our future.”
I assume Mr. Erdoğan’s tactic has also proved to him who his real friends and enemies are. He was able to see those that tried to provoke him and others that tried to empower him though they did not believe in him.
Let the 11th president of our nation be beneficial to our nation and our state.
