AK Party seeks a chairman, not a leader

Turkey's energetic, yet modest Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu seems to be a notch ahead of his colleagues in the race to become prime minister according to insiders in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). The other frontrunner tipped for the post is former transportation and communications minister Binali Yıldırım with AK Party Deputy Chairman Mehmet Ali Şahin, Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah İşler and Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay as other possible candidates.

AK Party experts say the selection of Davutoğlu will mean a new era in Turkish politics in the quest of shaping a new political model that is desired by Presidentelect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is still the prime minister until Aug. 28.

It will mean a complete transformation of Turkish politics and the end of the era of the old guard in the AK Party, as well as probably the end of several of the close aides of the prime minister.

It could also be a prescription for trouble in the party as those opposing Davutoğlu will not give him a smooth ride to power, and cracks may appear in the AK Party fabric.

Erdoğan has seen the potential dangers on the horizon, and on Thursday night at an AK Party reception, he warned against gossip, sedition and political intrigue that could harm the party. He requested that everyone unite in order to kill the "old habits of old Turkey," and help the supreme values that will reshape new Turkey to prevail.

It seems that is why suddenly the Parliament, which was struggling to push through some vital "package legislation," surprisingly and suddenly went into summer recess so that the potential fertile grounds for gossip, sedition and political intrigue would be avoided, at least until the dust settles after the new prime minister is named next week.

The other reason for the recess was technical; the AK Party wants Erdoğan to lead the party until its Aug. 27 special general assembly to pick the new chairman that will succeed Erdoğan, but according to Turkish law, the Supreme Election Board ruling confirming Erdoğan was supposed to be read in Parliament on Friday. The opposition would immediately say Erdoğan cannot remain prime minister and party leader; thus, he would have to leave all his posts immediately before the convention commences. To prevent any technical problems, it seems the AK Party decided to take a recess.

The other frontrunner that could edge out Davutoğlu is Yıldırım who has been a trusted and loyal troubleshooter of Erdoğan for more than a decade. Those who oppose Davutoğlu, especially the followers of outgoing President Abdullah Gül - who announced he will be returning to the AK Party - feel that such an appointment would open the way for a Gül comeback in nine months' time before the next Parliamentary elections. The person who will be named prime minister will have to be a Member of Parliament according to the law. The AK Party has set a rule that all members can only serve a maximum of three terms as parliamentarians. That is why if Davutoğlu is named PM, he will be here to stay, while all the others will be temporary as they all have completed their three terms in office.

Those who oppose Davutoğlu and want Yıldırım seem to have congregated into two distinct groups. One group is the old guard like deputy prime ministers Bülent Arınç and Beşir Atalay, while the others are the relatively young advisors of the prime minister that also include the Tourism and Culture Minister, Ömer Çelik.

If Erdoğan wants a smooth transition with minimum fuss, he can select a deputy who will not be elected next year to Parliament, and open the way for a race between Davutoğlu and Gül. However, observers say such races could be damaging to the AK Party.

The AK Party and Erdoğan will choose the prime minister on Aug. 21. On Aug. 27, that person will also be elected as party chairman. But make no mistake: the boss will always be Erdoğan.