Wanted: A facile caretaker

While traveling to Antalya on May 3 for a "sequencing conference," speculations were abundant that the prime minister might step down at any moment. There was such an expectation for some time because of an alleged widening rift between the president and the prime minister. Particularly after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Executive Board (MKYK), with alleged demand of President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, stripped Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu of the power to make single-handed decision on organizational matters, rumors started to float around that the president was pondering who should replace Davuto?lu: Transportation Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m, Justice Minister Bekir Bozda? or deputy prime ministers Süleyman Soylu and Numan Kurtulmu?? 

Though, for some time in the political corridors of Ankara, there was no doubt that Davuto?lu was departing and uncertainty regarding who would replace him, it was not until he declared boldly at parliamentary group meeting of the ruling party on May 3 that "if necessary I would turn down any position that many may think a mortal could not leave" the day of his departure might indeed come. When he was walking through the corridors of the extravagant palace for his "routine" weekly meeting with the absolute ruler - a day in advance of the accustomed Thursday meeting - bets were long opened over who might be the heir to the seat of the to-be-vacated chief vizier.

But were there any reasons apart some disagreements between the constitutionally chief executive and the de facto chief executive of the country that would require him to step down? Was not Erdo?an a mentor of Davuto?lu? Was it not Erdo?an who singlehandedly made Davuto?lu the AKP leader and prime minister? Was Davuto?lu unsuccessful as prime minister? If...