Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


              Ouster of Turkish PM Rekindles Dissent in Ruling AKP

   by Dorian Jones

   Since the ousting of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
   pro-president media outlets are appealing for unity and loyalty to
   President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The calls come as his removal provokes
   uncharacteristic dissent within the party, being played out on social
   media.

   Davutoglu's removal
   ''Prime Minister Davutoglu's ouster by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
   took much of the ruling AKP by surprise. The move resulted in a rare
   public show of dissent within the AKP, with angry exchanges on social
   media.''

   Political consultant Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners said the
   dissent sends a worrying message to the president.  "Davutoglu's
   removal started a bitter fight in the party, much bigger than I
   anticipated," he said. "Between his followers or Erdogan's detractors
   and Erdogan's fans.I think Erdogan fears or his advisers fear that
   unless he assumes formal powers over the party, he may lose the party
   and that I think is the bigger issue."

   The AKP has announced it intends to amend the constitution to lift a
   ban on the president being a member of a political party, allowing
   Erdogan to regain formal control over it.

   Bitter fight within party
   Pro-AKP media are calling for unity, while dissenting voices are being
   purged from their positions.Political scientist Cengiz Aktar
   said Erdogan will quickly crush any dissent.

   ''"It was just wishful thinking by some people who started to think
   that Mr. Davutoglu can be an alternative to Erdogan. It was just a big
   mistake, and it's over." Aktar stated. "The remaining AKP followers
   will simply pay tribute to the unique sole source of power in the
   country."

   Political columnist Kadri Gursel of Turkey's Cumhuriyet newspaper and
   Al Monitor website said in his more than a decade in power Erdogan
   amassed powerful instruments of patronage to maintain power and the
   loyalty of his supporters.

   "Erdogan has built up a very large apparatus -- political interests,
   financial interests, social interests -- many. He has turned the party
   into a huge company, running the state business, running the budget,"
   Gursel said.
   Replacing the PM
   On Sunday, Erdogan is expected to further strengthen his grip on the
   AKP when it elects Davutoglu's successor. It is widely predicted the
   replacement will be one Erdogan's closest allies.

   The president has said his priority is to extend his presidential
   powers, a move that has to be ratified by a referendum.

   ''Political consultant Yesilada said the outcome of that vote could be
   key to the future of the president.  "I think we will have a referendum
   of sorts, this summer, the outcome of which is very uncertain.If
   Erdogan wins, everybody will be resigned to their fate. If Erdogan
   loses on the other hand, I am fairly certain there would be a bitter
   struggle in the party, or at least reduce his influence," said
   Yesilada.

   Erdogan's dominance of Turkish politics is built on more than a decade
   of successive electoral victories, but the president is likely to be
   aware that with any sign of weakness opponents, in and outside his
   party, would likely not hesitate to challenge his power.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ouster-of-turkish-pm-rekindles-dissen
   t-in-ruling-akp/3335560.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ouster-of-turkish-pm-rekindles-dissent-in-ruling-akp/3335560.html