Gül’s name gains currency again in Ankara for post-Erdoğan era

The fact that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won an outright victory with almost 52 percent in the first round of the presidential election, according to unofficial results, may be a game changer in near-future scenarios for the post-Erdoğan era.

The result will likely mean Erdoğan has a strong hand with regard to using executive power at Çankaya Palace, which has traditionally been a largely symbolic post. It will likely also strengthen his hand in designing the future course of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), mainly according to his own will and in line with requirements cementing his political career.

Up to now, the name of outgoing President Abdullah Gül has been excluded from post-Erdoğan scenarios, and messages delivered by Erdoğan during the campaign also strengthened such assumptions.

However, the unofficial results have led some in the AKP to say they show the need for strong leadership in the party in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in June 2015, rather than a figure who would simply act as a shadow for Erdoğan at the top of the party.

Gül’s name has therefore started to be cited again as a possible prime minister, particularly by those senior AKP executives who are subject to a three-term consecutive limit for deputies, daily Cumhuriyet newspaper reported on Aug. 11.

Just as the first clear signal of Erdoğan’s presidential candidacy was given after a meeting of the ruling AKP’s highest decision-making body, the Central Decision and Executive Council (MKYK), a signal welcoming Gül to the future equation is expected after the MKYK’s Aug. 11 meeting.

In this regard, deliberations over the date of the AKP’s upcoming...