Is there panic within AKP, or is it an election tactic?

Three interesting articles appeared in the Turkish media on May 25, written by three journalists who are well-informed on developments within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti). 

All three mentioned a drop in support for the party, which could put at risk a single-party government after the June 7 elections, let alone the AK Parti?s target of 330 seats (out of 550) in parliament required to pass a strong-presidency-based constitution, as desired by President Tayyip Erdo?an. 

According to Yusuf Ziya Cömert and Abdülkadir Selvi, both writing in daily Yeni ?afak, and Mustafa Karaalio?lu, writing on the website www.karar.com, the dual nature of AK Parti leadership - made up of party chairman and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu and President Erdo?an - could be playing a role in the loss of appetite among AK Parti supporters.

Karaalio?lu claims that, according to the polls he has seen, the AK Parti?s vote forecast has dropped from ?around 45 percent? to ?around 43 percent? over the last two weeks. He says this shows that the party?s grassroots want to give a lesson to its leadership. The AK Parti received nearly 50 percent of the vote in the last parliamentary election in 2011, and Erdo?an was elected as president with 52 percent of the vote in August 2014.

Is an almost 10 percent drop within 10 months possible? 

Perhaps as a pre-emptive strike, AK Parti sources have leaked to the media that Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan - who will not be in parliament after the election but who has a certain trust among international investors - could continue to steer the economy after June 7 as a ?chief advisor.? That would certainly be a move to sooth Turkey?s financial markets.

It is a fact that if the AK Parti...