A radical solution to the diploma issue

It has been debated for years... Does Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have a higher education diploma or not? Now, the higher education diploma of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the CHP's most popular presidential candidate, is being debated. Let's move from this futile debate to a more useful topic.  

For 200 years, higher education, urban culture, and diplomatic procedure have been extremely important. In the world order established after the Second World War, the highest taboo became the multi-party democratic system. The people should be able to choose whom they want. However, in countries that had experienced Nazi and Fascist regimes, there was also a distrust of elections. It was never certain who the people would choose. Those elected could completely dismantle the electoral system and the democratic order. 

Countries that experienced the abolition of democracy through elections tried to strengthen the constitutional order, judicial oversight, and the function of academia. This also had reflections in Turkey. To be elected President, the requirements were to be a Turkish citizen, to be at least 40 years old, and to be a graduate of higher education. The logic here was clear. Being a Turkish citizen was important as a sign of loyalty to the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish nation. Being 40 years old was an indicator of maturity, both biologically and socially. Being a higher education graduate was a sign of possessing a certain level of urban culture and the ability to understand the world. 

However, the world has changed. Higher education is not experiencing its former glorious days. With the spread of mass media and especially the development of social media, it has become easier to understand the world. Let us recall that in the Turkish experience, Bülent Ecevit could not run for the Presidency because he was not a higher education graduate. Moreover, he was a graduate of Robert College. 

Higher education graduation used to be a standard. It is no longer a distinguishing feature, nor is it the only path to certain knowledge. Given this, why do we insist on higher education graduation? Whether we like it or not, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been governing the country for 23 years. 

Moreover, he has held the roles of executive prime minister, symbolic president, and executive president. In the past, the Presidency was symbolic, and the Prime Ministry was executive. Now, there is no Prime Ministry. The Presidency is executive. Therefore, it is reasonable for the conditions sought for the Prime Ministry to apply to the Presidency. 

If I were currently an advisor to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan or a respected elder of the AKP, I would propose passing a law that removes the diploma requirement. This way, both an outdated legal obstacle would be eliminated, and the country would be rid of futile debates. Furthermore, it would demonstrate an attitude that trusts in the multi-party democratic life and the discernment of the people. The fundamental assumption of multi-party democratic life is that the people possess discernment. Of course, it is not mandatory to agree with this. Personally, I have doubts about this. However, we are currently living in this system. Therefore, we must live according to the requirements of this system. If we believe, or pretend to believe, that the people have the discernment to choose the person who will represent them, we must get rid of this diploma requirement. 

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a master of elections. If there is trust in this skill, this law can be easily changed. We have more important issues, such as strengthening the public's sources of information and raising the socio-economic level of the people, so that they can choose the right person. 

We must think independently of individuals. The most important arena where any citizen will be tested is the opinion and conscience of the people. Not a "qualification" certificate signed by this or that institution. Those who walk the path in the name of "national will" should not fear the nation, or at least should not appear to fear it.