Most likely scenario: Davutoğlu to be PM

With Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s election as president, politics in Ankara is now focused on the next prime minister and chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), who is expected to be announced by Erdoğan in the coming days.

The most likely scenario floating in the capital suggests two figures as potential prime ministers, Ahmet Davutoğlu and Binali Yıldırım, although the former has more of a chance. Yıldırım, however, is expected to serve for Erdoğan at the presidency as his right hand man.

The AKP is expected to hold its extraordinary convention before the presidential handover slated for Aug. 28 in a bid to elect the new chairman so that Erdoğan will be able to give the mandate to form the new government on the same day he takes office. He is set to conclude consultations with the party within the coming days before announcing his successor.

A strong signal came from Erdoğan on Aug. 9, as he held his last and one of his largest public rallies in Konya, Davutoğlu’s hometown and stronghold. On Aug. 10, front pages of numerous newspapers were full of stories about Davutoğlu who hinted that he was mentally ready to assume this job. The message he delivered between the lines was simple: if the next prime minister agrees to work in harmony with President Erdoğan then there would be no problem.

What makes Davutoğlu more advantageous, in comparison to any other potential candidates, is that
he has no three-term limitation problem, as he still can run for Parliament for two more terms. Another point is that he has shown full loyalty to Erdoğan in critical moments and has proven that he may continue to work in harmony with the president.  

Furthermore...