Nowadays, there are discussions over the presidential candidacy of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan such as, "How can Erdoğan, the de facto decision maker, accept a passive role at the official residence if he becomes the president of the Turkish Republic?"

In this respect, some suggestions were put forward, including finding a new prime minister who will fully submit to President Erdoğan. The 104th article of the Turkish Constitution specifies the authorities held by the president. The article demonstrates that a president appointed with these authorities is apparently active.

As an example, former president Süleyman Demirel, serving at the time of the 1997 military memorandum or the Feb. 28 postmodern coup, assigned the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yılmaz as the prime minister, although the leader of the Social Democratic Populist Party (DYP) Tansu Çiller was officially supported by the other parties in the Grand National Assembly (TBMM). These include the power to call a meeting of the TBMM if necessary; to veto and send legislation back for amendment; to assign a prime minister and accept the prime minister's resignation; to chair the ministers of cabinet or call a meeting of the cabinet, if necessary; to decide the exercises of the Armed Forces; to assign the chief of defense staff; to select the members of the Higher Education Council and university chancellors; and to commute or pardon the charge of offenders with chronic illness, injury or because of age.

When these authorities are exercised by a politician elected by the people and receive the majority support of the Parliament, perhaps it is possible to be a "prime ministerlike" president.

I would like to emphasize the 104th article of the 1982 Constitution was written somewhat for former president and leader of the 1980 coup, Kenan Evren.

Therefore, the 1982 Constitution granted extraordinary authorities to the president following the 1961 Constitution with a representative president without much responsibility.

What is more, an anecdote about Cevdet Sunay (1899-1982), another former president at the time of the 1961 Constitution, is important to note. I had the chance to interview Sunay for a few times while he was alive. He was a smiling person with a sense of humor. Whether true or not, he enjoyed sharing the story below in his circle. When Sunay became a squadron leader, his fellow countrymen requested his help. However, Sunay said, "I am only a military officer. It is beyond my authorities to solve your problem."

Many years passed and Sunay became the military general. The countrymen requested his help once more and he said, "I am only a general. I cannot solve your problem."

After this, when he was assigned as the chief of general staff, Sunay faced the same question and his answer did not change. "I am only a chief of general staff. I do not have enough power to solve this." Finally, Sunay was appointed president of the Turkish Republic.

One day, the countrymen visited his official residence in Çankaya, saying, "There is no other state authority more powerful than you. Solve this problem."

The late president Sunay bowed his neck and opened his palms with despair. He said, "To tell the truth, I thought the same but I still do not have the power to solve this problem. I am only a president."