Necip F. Bahadir
Before sitting down to write, I always check the “breaking news.” I had noted “the image of partisan judiciary” as a backup topic. I began waiting for Erdoğan’s statements upon returning from Hungary. He was a bit late, but it was worth the wait. I was curious about his response to Bahçeli’s proposal of a “100-member commission.” The headline came from somewhere else entirely. He didn’t even mention the commission. And the journalists didn’t ask! Clearly, it was deemed “sensitive” and they were told “don’t ask.” Yet this is one of the most critical steps in the process…
While talking about the need for a “new constitution,” Erdoğan said, “We want this not for ourselves, but for our country. I have no intention of running again or being a candidate.” Doesn’t this remind you of the late Demirel’s famous line: “If I’m asking for something for myself, may I be disgraced!”?
He claims he wants a new constitution for the country. It’s strange for someone who doesn’t even respect the current constitution to talk about a new one. But the key sentence here is: “I have no intention of running again!” That’s the headline. What should we make of it? Is he signaling the end of his political career? That he won’t run in the next election?
Yes, that’s the first interpretation. Has he given his word that he won’t run again? According to the plain meaning of the sentence, yes. If he had said “I have no intention of being elected again,” one might interpret it as “My victory is guaranteed, no worries!” But saying “I have no intention of running again” only has one meaning: “That’s it for me… I won’t participate in the elections, I won’t be a candidate… I won’t even try…”
Is Erdoğan Playing Another Game?
Is it his word? Can we draw other conclusions or reinterpret it? No—there’s no other meaning to assign to those words.
Can we believe him? How trustworthy is Erdoğan’s word? Could it be a political maneuver? Could there be something sneaky underneath this sentence? Is this truly a final decision, or just a sugar-coated pill meant to get the opposition to swallow the “new constitution” narrative? No matter how you look at it, it will be heavily debated…
So many question marks… Hard to believe. But the words are out there now… They can’t be taken back. The toothpaste won’t go back in the tube. The public has understood this as a promise and has recorded it as such.
As is common in Turkish politics, voices of protest will rise from within his own party. There will be tearful laments of “Where are you going, leaving us behind?” Behind the scenes, organizations will be mobilized, demonstrations will be staged with signs saying “Don’t leave us!” Then it will be claimed that there’s a strong grassroots demand for him to stay. He will be asked to reconsider. That’s how politics works here.
Would his ally Devlet Bahçeli stay silent? Not likely! He’ll soon take the stage with emotional and poignant statements like, “You can’t abandon us, you must continue your duty!” He’s said similar things before. Let’s not forget, Bahçeli himself had resigned after an election defeat, but supposedly returned due to the grassroots’ “Don’t leave us!” demand. Then he clung to the seat and never got up again. He even ignored Meral Akşener’s legitimate call for an extraordinary congress.
I expect similar “pressures” for Erdoğan too…
Even if he literally says he’s not considering another run, politically speaking, it’s unlikely he’s completely closed the door. That door is always left slightly ajar. It can be reopened if needed. That’s why I favor adding a margin of caution. Someone like Erdoğan wouldn’t easily say, “I’m leaving!” He’ll push the limits to the very end. If he sees the obstacles as truly insurmountable, he may finally admit, “I’m stepping down.”
Very few leaders voluntarily withdraw from politics…
Didn’t He Say Two Years Ago That It Was His Last Election?
Almost two years have passed since the May elections. It was supposed to be his final one. During the March 31 local elections, he said outright: “This is a finale for me… This election is my last… The outcome will be the passing of the torch to my brothers who will come after me.”
When the AK Party was founded in 2002, there were time limits—term restrictions for both MPs and party chairs. It was a rebellion against Erbakan, after all. But despite being written into the party’s charter, neither the MP nor chair term limits were respected.
Someone who doesn’t intend to run again begins making preparations. He considers a successor. At the very least, he would step down as party leader. He would determine the cadres to prepare the party for the next elections. Looking at the untimely winter congress he held, I don’t see any such preparations. Everything he’s doing and saying suggests he’s acting as if he’s never going to leave…
There’s no heir apparent. Someone planning to exit the political stage would at least signal it gradually, elevate certain names. I’m aware that there’s intense mental gymnastics within the party about the post-Erdoğan era. Some are clearly “investing” in themselves. But all of this is happening despite Erdoğan—not through his initiative or will.
He Became a Disaster for the Country; There Will Never Be Another Like Him!
Despite all this, evaluating the sentence “I have no intention of running again” in its plain and simple meaning wouldn’t be wrong either. From that perspective, one could say, “The days without Erdoğan may not be far off!” I already didn’t think he would run again—let alone get reelected. I was already prepared for the post-Erdoğan era… And now, after his own words, the dreams of a “new era” can be built more freely. It doesn’t matter who comes next. Turkey without Erdoğan will be better under any circumstance. There will never be another one like him!
He entered politics as a hope for the oppressed, the marginalized, the victimized. He rose on their shoulders but became the country’s disaster. He committed unprecedented oppression and plunder in history. He will leave behind a massive material and moral wreckage…
He was tested by his own claims—and he failed. He lost big. The last decade of his rule was marked by oppression, authoritarianism, and corruption. History and fate will surely pass judgment on him… For the sake of his seat and power, he betrayed every value and sacred thing he once claimed to uphold.
Yes, he’s leaving now… I’m not the one saying it—it’s his own words: “I have no intention of running again!” But will he reflect this statement in his political behavior as well? Can he act like someone who won’t be a candidate, someone who’s truly retiring from politics?
I’m not very hopeful or optimistic, but if someone is on their way out, they may at least want to “leave behind a pleasant echo beneath the celestial dome…”
