Presidential System?

By Muharrem Sarikaya
SABAH- ''Although there are still two years for presidential elections (in Turkey), discussions on who will be elected the new president have already started,'' writes columnist Muharrem Sarikaya in his editorial published in today's edition of Sabah daily.
     Sarikaya also writes, ''these discussions started as the AKP (Justice & Development Party) government states, 'we will elect one among us.' AKP expects that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will become the new president. But, the number of AKP members who argue that 'Erdogan should continue to lead the party' cannot be underestimated.''
     ''Therefore, they (AKP members who argue that 'Erdogan should continue to lead the party') want Erdogan to head the party for one more term, i.e. till 2012. Their plan is based on designation of another person from AKP as the new president. Within this period, they also want to establish 'semi-presidential system', which is also what Erdogan 'wants', and elect Erdogan as the first 'president' of Turkey,'' indicates Sarikaya.
     Sarikaya concludes, ''so, who will be in Cankaya (presidential palace) during 'the transition period'? Here are the most probable candidates: Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Parliamentary Justice Commission Chairman Koksal Toptan.''
     (BRC-E֭ULG)