Politics within the AKP: It's complicated

Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?an gathered a group of academics and think tankers around a lunch table on Feb. 19, consulting with them about the political and legal events on his agenda. The main subject of the meeting was no surprise for anyone, with Erdo?an reportedly repeating the argument in his recent public speeches about Turkey?s need for a strong presidential model - of course, not just because he has been elected president, but for the good of the country.

The next day, the president addressed the crowds in the eastern city of Elaz??. The subject was the same. He also repeated his wish to see the support of ?at least 400? of the 550-seat Turkish parliament after the June 7 elections, in order to secure a system of unquestioned authority. He has explained before what kind of strong presidency he is hoping for: The separation of powers would be redefined to the advantage of the executive power; both the executive and legislative bodies would have a say on the judicial body; there would be no need for a two-chamber parliament as in most other presidential or semi-presidential systems, as they ?slow down? the executive power, (a one-chamber parliament would be sufficient for all checks and balances); there would be no need for a prime minister either - perhaps a first deputy of the president would be enough to coordinate the cabinet and the president alone could exercise the executive power for practical purposes.

Slamming criticism by the opposition parties, Erdo?an says such a system did not mean a dictatorship or a sultanate, but rather a better democracy, because it depends only on the will of the people through votes.

Erdo?an keeps repeating his demands, but has so far received little support from the ruling Justice and...