Home > Current Affairs News > Striking statement from the Palace regarding Erdoğan's re-election bid! 'One more time, that is, for the last time...'

Striking statement from the Palace regarding Erdoğan's re-election bid! 'One more time, that is, for the last time...'

Mehmet Uçum, Chief Advisor to the President and Deputy Chair of the Presidential Legal Policies Board, who evaluated the re-election bid of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated, "It is understood that the possibility of implementing the constitutional provision that would give President Erdoğan the opportunity to run for office one last time is making some domestic and foreign circles and centers very uneasy."

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While the opposition continues to reiterate its calls for early elections, discussions regarding the re-election bid of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continue.

A notable statement on the subject has come from the Palace.

Erdoğan's chief advisor Mehmet Uçum shared a post regarding the re-election process under the Presidential Government System.

Drawing attention to the 3rd paragraph of Article 116 of the Constitution, Uçum stated, "According to the Constitution, if the Parliament decides to renew the elections during the President's second term, the President may run for office one more time. This candidacy situation is an exception to the two-term rule. For this reason, it is called 'exceptional candidacy'."

Uçum's post is as follows:

"In terms of democratic functioning in the Presidential Government System, term limits are meaningful for providing more options to the public and for renewing those who represent the democratic will.

Conversely, a term limit can put a country at a disadvantage during times when leadership experience and competence are needed more. For this reason, it is appropriate to take an exceptional measure within democracy. Indeed, in our system, such a measure has been taken through the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) renewing the elections.

According to the Constitution, if the Parliament decides to renew the elections during the President's second term, the President may run for office one more time (Constitution Art. 116/3). This candidacy situation is an exception to the two-term rule. For this reason, it is called 'exceptional candidacy'.

"ERDOĞAN CAN RUN ONE MORE TIME, THAT IS, FOR THE LAST TIME"

As can be seen, exceptional candidacy arises from a constitutional norm. This norm provides an opportunity for one more candidacy for a President who has served two terms. In other words, it is not a situation specific to President Erdoğan. A legal exception exists for anyone who will serve two terms as president.

The opportunity for exceptional candidacy for President Erdoğan can only be possible through the implementation of the relevant constitutional provision. The authority to decide on this lies with the TBMM. If the Parliament decides to renew the elections with 360 deputies before the general elections to be held on May 7, 2028, for example in the second half of 2027, President Erdoğan can run one more time, that is, for the last time.

Under these circumstances, criticizing our proposal to give President Erdoğan the opportunity to run for office one last time with objections such as unconstitutionality, personal privilege, and paving the way for an unlimited number of exceptions is contrary to reason, logic, and law.

Some may say that this constitutional provision should not be implemented, which is also a view. However, treating the issue as if there is no such legal possibility and as if an arbitrary proposal is being made is complete ignorance and a malicious attitude.

It is the right of the democratic public to expect a subject to be discussed with accurate information. For those who are debating, using accurate information is a duty.

It is understood that the possibility of implementing the constitutional provision that would give President Erdoğan the opportunity to run for office one last time is making some domestic and foreign circles and centers very uneasy.

"THEY ARE COUNTING THE DAYS TO 2028"

The reason for the fear of imperialist centers is clear: They think they will have more opportunities for imperialist operations in a Turkey without Erdoğan. For this reason, they are counting the days to 2028 and do not want President Erdoğan to run for office, even if it is for the last time.

Domestically, the possibility of entering into democratic competition and a race with President Erdoğan in the elections for the last time scares some people intensely. After all, it is about the opportunity to run for office and to enter the election. This means that if the opportunity for candidacy is opened and President Erdoğan runs, they are afraid of competing with President Erdoğan. The fear that President Erdoğan will be elected again and for the last time is the main reason for the absurd objections to the candidacy opportunity, which is a legal path.

The opposition should face this: Does blocking President Erdoğan from entering the 2028 elections, despite the legal possibility of candidacy, give them strength in terms of democratic competition, or does it weaken them? Most likely, the image of weakness will prevail, and this could be interpreted by the voters as cowardice on the part of the opposition.

EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION

However, giving President Erdoğan the opportunity to run for office by implementing the constitutional provision and entering the race could be seen by the voters as the opposition showing courage in democratic competition.

Let us state that the decision to renew elections in the Presidential Government System is also an exceptional situation.

At this point, opening the way for President Erdoğan, who is a great asset to Turkey and one of its national values in terms of his leadership experience and political influence in the world, to run for office one last time in the upcoming general elections can be considered one of these exceptional situations. It is a strong prediction that using this opportunity will be for the benefit of Turkey."