Başbuğ is widely expected to succeed current Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt when he retires in August. Some said this expectation even grew stronger after this meeting, while others suggested that this meeting demonstrated once again harmony between the government and military in fighting terrorism. No matter how this meeting is interpreted, the general idea is that the course Turkey takes in the coming days will make clear what was really discussed during the meeting.Zaman's Mustafa Ünal thinks Erdoğan's meeting with Başbuğ at a time when some allegations have been made about the general show that the prime minister is not paying them heed and supports Başbuğ's nomination as the new chief of general staff. A secret meeting between Başbuğ and Osman Paksüt, a senior judge at the Constitutional Court, several days before a closure case was filed against Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) had led to theories of military-judiciary cooperation to close the party. In Ünal's view, such allegations about Başbuğ are not strong enough to put his nomination at risk, because Erdoğan's government has never meddled in the promotions of military officers, though it has the authority to do so. "Are there any reasons that may lead the government to act differently this year? Not necessarily. It is true that the government faces the risk of closure and the banning of its senior members from politics. It is true that the results of the closure case will influence all. Thus all the developments in Ankara are related to each other. We can understand from the course of upcoming events what was said at the Erdoğan-Başbuğ meeting. Let's wait and see," Ünal says.
Star's Nasuhi Güngör terms the Erdoğan-Başbuğ meeting as the most significant meeting of the past few months, says the meeting will likely bear a direct influence on the new picture of the ambiguous political environment. He argues that even the current debates and political moves are influenced by this meeting. Referring to a statement released by the Prime Ministry Press Center saying the two discussed measures to be taken against terrorist activities in the days ahead and recent developments in the country, and also Başbuğ's confirmation this in his own statement, Güngör says this is indicative of consensus between the government and the military on fighting terrorism. "The concept of the fight against terrorism as emphasized by both sides highlights a new and long-term period of struggle against terrorism, and Erdoğan and Başbuğ are in consensus over this," says Güngör. About the effect of this meeting on politics and whether it signals a new step in the period when the ruling AK Party is facing closure, he says: "There is no doubt that a balance between the prime minister and a future chief of general staff will influence politics and change some circles' calculations. Let's see what this meeting will bring for the hot summer days," adds Güngör.
