Roundup: Turkish president consolidates more power as PM decides to depart

The abrupt departure of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu from the office after winning a landslide election in November last year shows how much grip the Turkish president has over the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey.

Davutoglu announced on Thursday that he will step aside after he reportedly had a tense meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who hand picked him as his successor in August 2014.

"As long as (Turkey President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan stays in the power, the question of who will become new prime minister is no longer relevant," Murat Yetkin, a political analyst, said.

He said the new chairman of the AKP will be determined by the Turkish president.

For the first time in the Turkish politics, a prime minister is forced out from his office due to an internal squabble within the party rather than a loss in elections or a defeat in the Parliamentary vote of confidence.

"It was not the opposition but rather his own party, his own leader (Erdogan) that pulled the rug from under Davutoglu, unfortunately," Yetkin said.

The Turkish prime minister successfully led the AKP in snap polls in November, receiving the support of 49.5 percent of the electorate and securing the majority of the seats in 550-seat Turkish Parliament.

Although he has the mandate to run the nation as the head of the government until 2019, he has decided to resign in a move that was seen as yielding to immense pressure brought forward upon him by the president.

"The fact that my term lasted far shorter than four years was not a decision of mine but it was out of the necessity," Davutoglu said in his farewell speech, suggesting he was forced to do so.

Yet the Turkish president told reporters on Thursday that it was the prime minister's own decision to step aside.

The AKP is set to convene an emergency convention on May 22 when it will pick a new chairman of the party and prime minister as well as reshuffle in the top management of the party.

Erdogan and Davutoglu have had a falling out with each other recently when the latter is seen not very enthusiastic about the change of Parliamentary system to an executive presidency, something Erdogan wholeheartedly wishes to secure.

The executive presidency would officially give Erdogan new powers to control the ruling AK party and the government that he has been already enjoying albeit unofficially.

According to Turkish analyst Serpil Cevikcan, last week's decision by the AKP's 50-seat Central Decision and Executive Board's (MKYK) to strip Davutoglu of the powers to appoint provincial party leaders was a signal flare that led to his resignation.

Davutoglu also clashed with Erdogan over the management of the economy and the policies of supposedly autonomous central bank of Turkey, eventually yielding to the policy choices made by the Turkish president.

Both leaders have marked differences in their approach to resolve Turkey's decades-long Kurdish problem and how to improve Ankara's relations with the European Union, especially on migrant deal that was largely brokered by Davutoglu.

Murat Sabuncu, political analyst, believed the failure of Davutoglu in setting up his own team in the government as well as in the top management of the ruling party helped seal the prime minister's fate.

"He has been fully encircled by names [of the people] compiled by Erdogan," Sabuncu underlined.

On Thursday, following the Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, Davutoglu tried to draw a positive picture for his departure, saying that he has no regrets in taking a decision to leave the post.

Yet most are not content with those explanations.

Mumtaz'er Turkone, professor of political science, underlines that the departure of Davutoglu was not based a well-reasoned decision, adding that it will further throw Turkey into chaos.

"Whomever comes next (as prime minister), he will have no credibility other than being a preferred name by Erdogan," he pointed out.

Among the names that were floated in Ankara circles as candidates for the party leadership include Transport Minister Binali Yildirim, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, who is also the president's son-in-law, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan, deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, and Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz.

Only one compromise candidate is expected to contest the chairmanship as it was the case in previous party conventions.

According to Sabuncu, a new chairman of the party would be someone who will not question the president on any issue at all and will fully comply with Erdogan's wishes.

Some believe Erdogan will likely to push for an early election to gain absolute majority in parliament to officially change the regime in Turkey into an all-powerful executive presidency.

Mehmet Altan, an economist and author of dozens of books on Turkey, said the Turkish president plans to hold an early election at a time that will catch the opposition off-guard and give the ruling party more power in the Parliament.

In the meantime, the main opposition Republican Peoples' party (CHP) described Davutoglu's ouster as a palace coup by Erdogan, saying that he was legitimately elected as the prime minister with the votes of 24 million people.

The cabinet reshuffle is expected to follow the AK Party's convention. Enditem