A president like Sezer!

When the main issue again became the presidential elections, clues as to what kind of president is being sought were made visible. From what could be inferred from the discourse of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), whose victory in the elections is almost indisputably expected, the party wants a visionary president with substantial political experience who is able to speak to the people and respect their values and concerns.  

It can also be seen that the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which will undoubtedly become one of the major determinants in the presidential election process because of its popular support, will try to impose a candidate from outside Parliament. The characteristics that the CHP seeks in the president can be best summarized in the expression “a president like Sezer!”

What kind of president do the CHP and its ultranationalist supporters want by referring to “a president like Sezer”? Of course, those who favor “a president like Sezer” will most eagerly put special emphasis on his so-called impartiality and independence. Let us recall what could be expected of “a president like Sezer”:

“A prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that he should have no contact whatsoever with the public to sustain this impartiality. He should totally ignore popular expectations and values and should not let them affect his decisions. He should even develop a unique language so that the public will have difficulty understanding him. He should not let anybody or anything affect his decisions except some marginal personalities.

“A prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that this impartiality should be fortified through the dominance of minority over majority viewpoint. With such an “impartiality” that will be sustained independent of the concerns over public happiness, peace and welfare, all major tasks of the majority government, which does not agree with the minority, should be halted and the probable impact of public and national interests on the making of an impartial decision by the president should not be tolerated.

“A prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that he should stay away from all attempts to maintain transparency that could potentially undermine this sacred impartiality. In reliance on the opportunities provided by political irresponsibility, he should not become a public figure who expresses his views in the discussions of major national problems. He should make his statements as well as his stand through his very influential vetoes.

“A prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that he should not be affected by the expectations for the lifestyles of the people other than those who endorse the same world view as his. He should declare everywhere he is present in the sacred “public sphere.” He should be decisive and careful not to admit anybody who does not agree with him into this sphere so as not to erode his impartiality.

“A prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that he should not be affected by the overall economic situation and the country’s realities, which profoundly affect the public and the entire country. He should instantly eliminate prospects for the flow of tens of billions of dollars that the country sorely needs through the veto power he holds. He should do his best to use every opportunity to make foreign capital regret coming to Turkey to make investments. He should not let the needs and expectations of economy affect his decision making.

“A prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that he should not take part in any international platform that would potentially affect his impartiality. He should not take the lead in any international project. He should do nothing to further already launched projects, even if they maximize Turkey’s national interests. He should be so aloof and such a stranger to Turkey’s international relations that he should be able to reprimand foreign leaders in public if he so desires, and he should make an unhappy face to express his dislike of the visits of foreign guests.

“A prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that he should make even those who elected him regret what they have done. He should not let those who elected him undermine his impartiality by reprimanding them and, if possible, throwing the booklet of the Constitution at them. To sustain this impartiality, he should be able to risk economic stability and trigger an economic crisis under which the entire country loses half of its assets.

And finally, “a prospective president like Sezer” should be so impartial that he should be able to create many obstacles before the executive branch; and for his contribution to the setback, he should be honored as the “Fourth Man” following the founder of the republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and National Chief İsmet İnönü.