Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu declared Thursday that he will not seek mandate at an extraordinary congress on May 22 when Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will choose a new party leader and prime minister.
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Critics fear that the reforms would concentrate too much power in Erdogan’s hands.
Erdogan’s supporters have criticized Davutoglu for not doing enough to push for the presidential system, although Davutoglu is on record as saying he supports such a change.
Turkey is also in the midst of implementing a key deal with the European Union, brokered by Davutoglu, to limit the number of refugees flowing across its border in return for accelerated EU accession talks and financial aid.
“You will allow terrorists to set up tents, say you are doing it in the name of democracy, and then tell us to change our terrorism law for visas”, said Erdogan.
“On Wednesday, the European Commission said that Turkey has made “impressive progress” to meet the requirements for the visa waiver but still needed to work on five ‘blocks” – document security, migration management, public order and security, fundamental rights, and readmission of irregular migrants.
Erdogan had founded the AKP that has governed the country since 2002.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Davutoglu said he reached his decision after the AKP removed his powers to appoint local party leadership, explaining that he did not like the way the party went about the action.
But, it is believed he fell from grace, as reported by BBC, after disagreeing with Erdogan’s plans to shift the country toward a presidential system, which would boost his power.
Davutoglu’s resignation was preceded by a referendum that was held within the ruling party two weeks ago to narrow down the potential candidates to lead the party and the government. “He should have resisted and said it was the people who brought me here and it’s the people who can bring me down”. “What can be more natural than this?” the president, who is supposed to be apolitical, said in a speech in Istanbul.
She adds that the division between the Turkish president and the prime minister comes mostly from domestic issues such as negotiations with the Kurdish opposition as well as the appointment of party and administrative officials.
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Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu won’t run again at the country’s May 22 special congress after a dispute with the country’s president.
