AKP has two scenarios after presidential polls

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) will come to a fork on the road if its leader Erdoğan is voted the president in the elections. Current President Gül’s return to the party could be the key According to the ruling party sources, there are two plans in question for the future of Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the alternatives for candidates for Prime Ministry in the case that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wins presidency. 

The first plan talked about in the AKP is based on current President Abdullah Gül’s comeback to the party. Those who voice this plan are predominantly the “old school team” who have been in the party for some time. But there are also names from the team that is working closely with Erdoğan who also defend this plan. Those who support Gül’s comeback say, “We can always discuss alternatives in every matter. We are pragmatic.” They believe that the new Cabinet and the prime minister during the transition period will be determined together by Erdoğan and Gül. For this reason, it does not matter much who the transition prime minister is. The message will be “a strong party; a strong team.”

Those who defend the farsighted plan say, “Just as we have set up the mechanism to bring Erdoğan up [to presidency], we will also set up the mechanism to take Gül down. It is too early to tell what steps the AKP will take. This is what we call “foresight.” This team claims Erdoğan will meet Gül in August and make a clear and definite evaluation. They also claim Gül is not against the idea of leading the party. In the case that Gül takes the party’s leadership then elections will be held in...