Erdogan as Turkey's next president? Not so fast
In about a month, on Aug. 10, Turkey will have its first round of a historic presidential election. Historic because this is the first time the president will be directly elected by the people. Previously, the president has been elected to the largely ceremonial office by parliament for a single seven-year term. The new president-elect will have a tenure of five years but with the opportunity for a second term at Cankaya (the neighborhood of Ankara where the presidential residence is located). According to embellished commentaries, this is the first time since the days of the Seljuks and the Ottoman Empire that the Turkish people themselves are going to decide who will rule them.
More:Erdogan as Turkey's next president? Not so fast - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East