Turkey Descending Further Into Political Chaos with Prime Minister Resignation

The Wall Street Journal reports that Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will step down following a dispute with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The resignation of Davutoglu is a sign of Erdogan’s bid for absolute power and also that ties between Turkey and the west are gradually diminishing.

 Davutoglu ‘s resignation came within hours of word that European Unions (EU) Executive Arm had agreed to endorsed a deal to secure visa free travel to the European bloc for Turkish citizens. The EU-Turkey deal was a measure he secured after stemming the flow of refugees coming through Turkey.

Davutoglu in a two hour meeting with Erdogan on Wednesday May 4, 2016, announced he would be stepping down from his position as the ruling head of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), but will remain on as a party legislator.  The signs of Davutoglu’s resignation may have been sealed last week when Erdogan stripped him of authority to appoint provincial AK Party members.

Davutoglu ties with Erdogan was viewed Turkey watchers as a crucial partnership. The BBC reports that the falling out between the two leaders was related to Erdogan’s decision to transform Turkey into a presidential. Turkey has been under a democratic parliamentary system of government for half a century, but Erdogan has repeatedly attempted to disband the system in order to centralize power in a strong presidential office.  Davutoglu told the media that he remains loyal to President Erdogan and that he bore no anger against anyone.

The resignation of Davutoglu is viewed as a blow to the U.S., which viewed the former Prime Minister as being more reform minded than Erdogan.  His resignation may erode relations between Ankara and Washington, D.C., which have been strained over the Turkish military campaign against the Kurds, who are viewed in Washington as the most effective force against the Islamic State. The Obama Administration has refused to comment on the situation in Turkey calling it an “internal political matter.”

European leaders are also worried over Davutoglu’s resignation, with concerns that it may implode a pending EU-Turkey deal over the return of thousands of refugees.

Erdogan will continue his campaign of cracking down on free speech and human rights as the country spirals into political chaos and violence. Erdogan has successfully stripped Kurdish members of parliament (MP) of their legislative immunity, seized control of the Gulen-linked Zaman Newspaper, and convicted journalists, teachers, and politicians on terrorism charges.

Aykan Erdemir, a senior fellow at the Foundation of Defense and Democracies describes Erdogan as having no tolerance for criticism, even from former allies. Erdogan will handpick the next prime minister and reports indicate that Transportation Minister Binali Yidirim, a very close friend to Erdogan, and Energy Minister Barat Albayrak, Erdogan’s son-in-law, are the top two candidates.

The resignation of Davutoglu signals the final culmination of Erodgan’s authoritarian efforts. As  one analyst described it, Erdogan may have finally achieved his objectives,  “head of state, head of government, head of AKP, and head of everything Turkey.”