The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be in retreat, as he pursued the total elimination of every opposing voice through sweeping operations, while social anger and dissatisfaction over his economic policy, with the Turkish lira’s collapse and galloping inflation, continue to grow.
In moves of political desperation and attempting to give the “kiss of life” to his AKP party, Erdogan increasingly targets his opposition rivals, culminating in the imprisonment of former Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, composing his ruthless policy of prosecutions. This policy, which most analysts say resembles an operation of absolute silencing of any person who could potentially threaten Erdogan for the presidency, reached the point of leading to scenarios about possible dissolution of Turkey’s largest opposition party, the Republican CHP. The question of why Erdogan has so intensified his inflammatory policy has arisen many times, since taking a new term in 2028, the date of the next elections, is not guaranteed.
What has not been answered until now is how much longer Erdogan will continue to appear as a ruler “by the grace of God.” Recently, however, international media have compiled an informal list of his potential successors, with the name of his beloved 18-year-old grandson, Omer Erdogan, appearing on the list. Possibly after the end of the term beginning in 2028, the Turkish president’s relative may be ready to take over, with his grandfather as his political mentor. Already, his appearances with a leadership profile at conferences and events have hardly gone unnoticed, with some recalling that element of extroversion that Erdogan wanted to project at the beginning of his presidency, appearing in the early 2000s as a Kemalist, but later showing adherence to an agenda with elements from deep Islam.
Erdogan’s potential successor relatives and the “scent” of scandal following them
Recently, Omer Tayyip Erdogan quoted his grandfather’s words at an event: “I see our youth not only as the architects of the future, but also as the driving force of change. I wholeheartedly believe that Turkish youth, carrying our cultural heritage in their hearts, will leave their mark on the era we live in with the energy, determination and dreams of the Turkish century.”
Omer Tayyip Erdogan was born in Washington in 2007 and is the son of Bilal Erdogan and Reyhan Uzuner. He is Erdogan’s seventh grandson, who returned to Turkey with his family shortly after his birth and spent his childhood in Istanbul. The 18-year-old is vice president of the Young Diplomats Association, while encouraging youth participation in global affairs through forums and symposiums. Through his activities, he seeks to enhance youth participation in shaping Turkish foreign policy, while being considered Erdogan’s favorite. Omer’s father, 44-year-old Bilal, has not taken on crucial sectors in the Turkish government, but his name has been linked to corruption scandals.
Until Erdogan’s next term, other names are naturally heard, such as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, for the succession. The Foreign Minister, head of Turkey’s secret services, MIT, from 2010 to 2023, knows Erdogan’s policy regarding the US and the Kurdish issue in depth, while also being considered the orchestrator of plans for controlling Syria. Another name heard for succession to the Turkish presidency is that of Berat Albayrak, the 47-year-old married to Erdogan’s eldest daughter, Esra, with whom they have four children together. He served as Energy Minister from 2015-2018 and Finance Minister from 2018-2020, but carries in his portfolio the mismanagement of fiscal data. At the same time, another of Erdogan’s sons-in-law figures high in the succession race names. This is Selcuk Bayraktar, who is building a leadership profile in his own way. The 46-year-old is married to Sumeyye Erdogan and has a key role in Turkey’s defense industry issues. The Baykar company he leads produces Bayraktar unmanned aircraft, his work resembles that of a Defense Minister, and he claims Turkey can exclude F-16s from its Defense.
As it appears, Turkish succession will largely be a family affair, with people he knows and who simultaneously know exactly Tayyip Erdogan’s political agenda appearing as potential new presidents in a Turkey showing fatigue toward the handling of a president trying “tooth and nail” to stay in political life.
Published in Parapolitika newspaper
