Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is making impressive moves, trying to prove that he remains healthy and strong against the background of reports of deteriorating health.
Following Foreign Policy reports that "he may be too ill to continue to lead Turkey", Erdogan posted a video of himself playing basketball to show that he is OK.
"Exercise is very important for health. "I try to exercise three days a week," Erdogan wrote.
https://twitter.com/RTErdogan/status/1444575034274635776
Erdogan is trying to win the communication part and prove that he is well and will be able to claim the presidency again in the next elections in 2023, however he does not seem convincing.
Foreign Policy: He may be very ill
According to a post by the authoritative Foreign Policy, there are indications that Erdogan may be too ill to run for re-election.
In recent months, there have been reports that Tayyip Erdogan's health is not good. This, after all, is protested by various videos that have been leaked from time to time, infuriating the sultan who wants to look powerful.
There are also rumors about the health of the Turkish president - including allegations that he wants to face respiratory attacks, while he has allegedly had an internal defibrillator implanted. According to these allegations, the Turkish president increased the number of doctors around him, reduced his meetings with the press and needed the help of painkillers before public events.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a visit to Anıtkabir, a member of the Supreme Military Council. Erdoğan As Aslanlı yolda yürürken zlanrdem olldem ogündem olduda. pic.twitter.com/dhhFs8AMgN
- BOLD (@BOLDmedya) August 4
By no means do I want to convey that I recommend for the mother to be inactive. pic.twitter.com/KYFZ5Vhibs
- Cevheri Güven (@cevheriguven) July 21, 2021
What if Erdogan is sick enough?
What if Erdogan is sick enough? What if, either due to illness or death, he is unable to run for re-election in 2023?
According to Article 106 of the Turkish Constitution, Vice President Fuat Oktay will assume the responsibilities and powers now held by Erdogan until elections are held (in 45 days) and a new president is sworn in. This is quite simple and typical. Turkish analysts have long speculated that in a post-Erdogan Turkey, the AKP would split in such a way as to pave the way for an election that could be won by any of Turkey's biggest opposition politicians.
The favorite could be Ekrem Imamoglu, who won a former AKP prime minister (twice) to become mayor of Istanbul. His Ankara counterpart, Mansour Yavas, is also considered a very good politician. And then there is Meral Aksener, leader of the IYI Parti, with a reputation for being tough like Margaret Thatcher.
However, according to the same publication, it is worth considering the possibility of someone else ruling Turkey after Erdogan, perhaps in a state of emergency. Among the most powerful figures in Turkey, besides Erdogan, are MIT chief Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. Of the three, Akar appears to be in the most advantageous position to take the lead.
Of course, there is no way to know the real state of Erdogan's health or who can succeed him, but analysts and government officials speculate that the Turkish president will run in the 2023 elections. If he does not, Turkish politics could return to something resembling the status quo ante, or cracks in the AKP may present opportunities for opposition, or the country may become more unstable.
In any case, it would be a great mistake to ignore the signs that Erdogan's health may be deteriorating.
in.gr