President and Party Presidency

The content of President Erdogan's speech to the European Union (EU) ambassadors on January 13, 2022, includes information on the future of bilateral relations. A similar speech was made last year as well. The interesting thing is that both meetings were held in the Çankaya mansion instead of the Kulliye. While the Kulliye is used in almost every Presidential activity, what is the reason for the meetings with EU ambassadors to be held in the Çankaya mansion, what kind of message is wanted to be given, in fact, it is an interesting situation.

In this year's speech by President Erdogan; Sensitivities about Turkey's EU membership, the fight against terrorism and the migration crisis seem to come to the fore. In the speech made last year, issues related to the Eastern Mediterranean and the TRNC were also emphasized. For some reason, these issues were not addressed this year. It seems that Turkey; It is beginning to move towards a more passive political understanding of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean issues. The withdrawal of drilling and research vessels from the region and the fact that they are kept in Antalya is a situation suitable for this new understanding. The will that governs Turkey seems to have evaluated that it has shown what it can do and that the future will be shaped according to the moves of the other side. Therefore, until the move of the other side is seen, the policy of displaying a good-willed attitude may continue. In addition, the recent economic turmoil has revealed the necessity of correcting the deteriorated relations with the West. The fact that the USA sees that the "East Med" pipeline project is not viable due to its cost of 7 billion dollars will increase the effectiveness of Turkey in this region, which is ready for pipelines to transfer natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe. Therefore, it can be considered that it is not necessary to continue an aggressive policy in the region.

In his speech, President Erdoğan talked about the ambivalent approaches of Europe, similar to the speech he gave last year. However, this time the tonnage remained quite light compared to last year. There may be deficiencies or mistakes in the issues that Turkey should do regarding EU membership. However, Europe also needs to see and understand its political mistakes and mistakes and make some changes. It is inevitable for Europe to save itself from strategic myopia and take bold steps to improve its relations with Turkey. It is expected that Turkey will act in accordance with European norms, and will increase the rule of law, freedom and democracy. In these criteria, it does not suit Turkey to be at the same level as third world countries and second-class democracies. In the changing world order, while Eastern Europe has become the main region of the power struggle between Russia and the North Atlantic, neither Europe without Turkey nor Turkey without Europe can be imagined. Both the EU and Turkey must now see and understand that both sides need each other in order to be effective, respected and deterrent.

It was also very interesting that the ambassadors took notes together during President Erdogan's speech, as if they had agreed. The text of Erdogan's speech has certainly been distributed. Even if not distributed, this text can be found via social media. While there is a video of the speech, the reason and background of this note-taking business has also been a subject of curiosity.

Let's turn, from foreign policy to domestic policy.

President Erdogan is expected to make speeches that embrace all the people, as he is the head of the executive, in domestic politics, similar to the necessary and impressive speeches he has made on foreign policy.

In; The use of rhetoric, which draws the reaction of the opposition and its supporters, in the form of marginalizing and terrorizing everyone in opposition in order to consolidate the supporters, does not do any good other than stressing the politics and society.

Erdogan would be much more beneficial for this strange people, my beautiful country and the People's alliance itself, if he could speak to the outside world, as well as to the inside, about real problems and like the head of the entire republic.

In fact, the problem stems from the peculiarity of the system. The President should be impartial, because he is the head of the entire republic with his power and opposition. However, in the Turkish-style presidential system, when the President is also the head of the executive, criticism of the opposition on a democratic basis is normal, inevitable and even necessary. The fact that the party chairman and the Reis-i Cumhur are the same person stretches the political arena. Due to this systemic problem, mutual political discourses become harsher, and insulting words can be said both by and by the President. These harsh rhetoric, mutual lawsuits and their consequences can not contribute to the country, the nation or our democracy.

Let's evaluate the problem in the system with empathy. Let's suppose that CHP Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu was a candidate in the first election and was elected with 50+1 percent of the vote. He will continue to serve as both the President, the head of the executive and the Chairman of the CHP, just like the current situation, 

On top of that, let's imagine that he had a mutual discussion with Erdogan, the Leader of the Main Opposition Party, like today.

In such a situation, wouldn't the people who did not vote for the CHP and who gave their heart to the People's Alliance be disturbed? Doesn't the fact that the same person is the leader of the Republic, the executive branch and the party gradually turns the country into an anti-democratic party state? Turkey's tendency towards a structure similar to the one-party period before 1950 does not contribute to the democratic, sociological and economic development of the country.

The presidential government system should be reconsidered because of this emerging deficiency. Its advantages and disadvantages should be revealed, its examples in the world should be examined and it should be transformed into a form that can be accepted by all segments. The head of the executive cannot be expected to be impartial, then it is inevitable for the opposition to criticize. In particular, it is not politically correct for any person to represent the whole of the people as the head of a party, through the office of the Presidency.

Therefore, the most important problem to be solved is; It is the continuation of the President's affiliation with his party, and when a person represents the whole of the country, he remains the leader of his own party.

This troubled situation, together with the rise of the country's level of democracy, will, over time and inevitably, transform itself into a stronger, either parliamentary or acceptable presidential system.