A Sunday reception at Çankaya Presidential Palace hosted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer drew a broad cross-section of Turkish society, including university rectors, artists, business figures, and bureaucrats. Observers noted that Sezer's guest list reflected a deliberate effort to gather people committed to Türkiye's future.
Conversation at the event centered heavily on the two major political milestones approaching in 2007: the presidential election in the spring and general elections in the fall. Sezer's term ends 16 May 2007, and the formal selection process for his successor must begin 30 days prior.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan indicated he would not address the presidential succession question until April, while main opposition Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykal appeared to be adopting a similar wait-and-see posture.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanıt, speaking informally to reporters, said he preferred to comment as a private citizen rather than in his official capacity, describing the outgoing president as someone who fully upholds the republic's founding values. Public sentiment, according to the article, broadly favored electing a successor of comparable character to Sezer.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.