What’s behind Ahmet Davutoglu’s resignation?
Ahmet Davutoglu says he is stepping down from office later this month. Why now? And what does it mean for Turkey?
There has long been speculation in Turkey about a rift between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the man he handpicked as Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu.
The two men once represented the country’s strongest political relationship.
But it’s a relationship that’s looked increasingly strained in recent weeks. And on Thursday, Davutoglu perhaps felt it was time for him to go.
He announced he would step down as AK Party leader at an extraordinary congress to be held later this month. A decision that paves the way for Erdogan to choose a new ally to serve as prime minister.
But why is Davutoglu stepping down now?
And what does it mean for the state of democracy in Turkey?
Presenter:
Hazem Sika
Guests:
Ozgur Ozdamar – Professor of International Relations at Bilkent University
Wolfango Piccoli – Managing director at Teneo Intelligence
Sinan Ulgen – Visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe