Turkey will be entering a new era after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan assumes the presidency. Now is the time for determining the new Justice and Development Party (AK Party) cabinet. As has been widely discussed, the new prime minister will be acting Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. Davutoğlu is prominently known as self-confident, smart, intellectual, idealist and a courageous politician. His courage has especially played a significant role in eliminating the former perception of Turkey of worshipping the West, remaining a pursuer rather than being a pioneer and always recognizing itself as exterior rather than being central.Davutoğlu's other notable attribute is his intelligence. His exceptional capacity of comprehension and memorizing is recognized both by his opponents and proponents. His sophistication on various disciplines also cannot be disregarded. He was an intellectual and academic prior to his identity of being a politician. He likes to read, explore bookstores and loses himself in libraries. In one interview that I conducted with him he said, "I used to spend my hours in bookstores. After I became a minister, I deeply feel the lack of these kinds of activities."Davutoğlu is known as an outstanding idealist as well. He has a clear worldview and he often presents his views and life-vision without hesitation or reluctance. Turkey's foreign policy under him can be evaluated as a reflection of this trait. His courage mostly made him a distinctive figure. He has a fearless manner that has never led him to avoid a struggle or take a step back in an argument.All of these traits have led Davutoğlu to the position of prime minister. In my opinion, idealism and courage are his common traits with Erdoğan. You can criticize his line of thought in foreign affairs and you can say that occasionally his anticipations turned out misleading, but it seems impossible to deny his above-stated attributes. If these attributes can be transferred to useful policy, I am sure this will breed very positive consequences.Davutoğlu's name evokes a special meaning for me. It seems that he and I have been through the same desks – Istanbul High School and Boğaziçi University respectively. He will be the third prime minister who attended Istanbul High School after Necmettin Erbakan and Mesut Yılmaz. I cannot help but to feel flattered.I wish him good luck. Turkey will move on with a figure that seems almost embodied with the notion of "new" Turkey. This notion signifies a paradigm shift in politics. Turkey will endorse a new paradigm in which there will be no room for the former habits of the "old" Turkey. If a drastic deviation from this new paradigm does not happen, and if the current objectives of Turkey such as finalizing the reconciliation process successfully, introducing a new constitution, creating momentum in relationships with the West and escalating the EU accession process can be achieved, then a bright future is awaiting Turkey.