Justice and Development Party (AKP)

The prevention of President Abdullah Gül’s return to politics is an important political indicator. Gül’s exclusion from politics is indicative of how the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has changed its stance from the inclusive, reformist, moderate and center-oriented policies it followed from its inception in 2002 until 2010 to more radical and ideological politics.

The absence of an international regime on climate change has enabled Turkey to enjoy a free ride on a development policy that is careless about emissions, according to an activist. ‘The collapse of the EU process is also the reason why Turkey gives less emphasis to climate change,’ says Ümit Şahin.

It is rather difficult for me to write about the new prime ministerial candidate, Ahmet Davutoğlu, since he is a classmate from university years and an old friend. Despite the differences of political views that we had from the beginning, I have always regarded him as a very kind and valuable person. I remember him as a bright student in university classes and as a civilized person.

Some 20 leaders have confirmed their attendance for the official ceremony when President Gül will hand over office to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan More than 20 heads of states and governments have announced their attendance for the official ceremony when outgoing President Abdullah Gül will hand over office to President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 28.

The leaders of the two major opposition parties have expressed their discontent at the nomination of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu as the next ruling party Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader and prime minister by President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Current adviser to the ruling party chair, Binali Yıldırım, has expressed his support for the nomination of Ahmet Davutoğlu for chairmanship of the party at a press conference on Aug. 22, where he also said he was not offended at not being picked as the candidate.

Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan has called on top members of the country’s economy management to meet on Sept. 2 to discuss short- and medium-term policies amid lingering questions regarding the future of the Cabinet.

Female and male protesters are planning to swim together at Antalya’s Sarısu beach to protest its recent transformation into a women’s only beach.

The beach was converted into a free-of-charge, women’s only beach and opened with a ceremony on Aug. 16 by Antalya Municipality.

Outgoing President Abdullah Gül became the first of a series of officials to congratulate Ahmet Davutoğlu after the foreign minister was nominated as a successor as prime minister to President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The expectation of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) from Ahmet Davutoğlu is not to govern the country until the general elections are held in June 2015, but to come out of these elections as a strong government. If this happens, it will mean Turkey will be ruled – uninterrupted and without any elections – by the AKP until 2019.