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Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu greets members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) as he arrives a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara


Turkish Ruling Party Preparing to Replace PM Davutoglu

by | May 4, 2016 | Middle East |

Turkish Ruling Party Preparing to Replace PM Davutoglu

ANKARA- It seems like the time has come for Turkey’s ruling party to bring up a new PM, as in the coming weeks, and according to officials, PM Ahmet Davutoglu will be replaced at an extraordinary congress. This states that Davutoglu’s term has come to an end.

The decision came following a meeting that brought Davutoglu and President Tayyip Erdogan in together, after weeks of increasingly public tension between them both.

Davutoglu’s term ends by the time Turkey faces increasing security challenges and tough time with a Kurdish insurgency in its southeast and the spillover of the war in Syria on its southern border.

Furthermore, EU is relying on Turkey to help put an end to the flow of migrants into the continent under a landmark accord brokered by Davutoglu.

According to officials, it is set for the congress to be held as soon as May 21 and no later than June 6, coinciding with the 1st day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Noting that both leaders have governed in a tense alliance since Erdogan won the presidency in 2014 and Davutoglu replaced him as prime minister, both have appeared at odds over the deal with the EU to stem the movement of illegal migrants from Turkish shores to the Greek islands.

Erdogan, frequently critical of the EU, has at times appeared to belittle Davutoglu’s progress, most notably efforts to win visa-free travel to Europe by June, the main prize in the eyes of many Turks. “During my time as prime minister it was announced (this) would come in October 2016,” Erdogan said recently.

The latter added, “I don’t understand why bringing it forward four months is presented as a win. I’m saddened by the presentation of small things in a bigger light.”

Former diplomat and political commentator Sinan Ulgen said the two leaders had always faced a “fundamental dilemma”.

“Erdogan’s end goal is to consolidate enough popular support to switch to a presidential system. Davutoglu’s end goal is to consolidate his own power and be a successful prime minister,” said Ulgen, head of the EDAM think-tank in Istanbul.