News:

The 12 new departments that will be established in the Presidential Palace will develop politics and strategies through scientific work. The departments will ensure coordination with governmental institutions and will provide support to the government through their counsel. (Source: Sabah)

 

Comment:

The "presidential system" is being discussed in Turkey since the past president Turgut Özal until today. Especially towards the end of President Erdogan's Prime Minister era this issue is being discussed more intensively in the public. It can be said that one of the most important agendas of the year 2014 was the presidential system. Erdogan said in a TV program he joined on Channel A Haber on 21st July 2014, "I wish to carry Turkey to the presidential system. However I don't know how the party's Central Executive Board thinks about it. I am the opinion that the presidential or semi-presidential system will speed up Turkey's steps."

Erdogan, who already promised after becoming President that he would not be an "ordinary President", has announced that he will hold a cabinet meeting on 19th of January in Beştepe (Presidential Palace), and that he will preside over the meeting. It was stated that there would be established 12 departments who will work within the framework of the presidency.

According to a news report on the Sabah Newspaper, "The 12 departments will develop politics and strategies through scientific work. The departments will ensure coordination with governmental institutions and will provide support to the government through their counsel. The new Domestic Security Department will primarily conduct work regarding the resolution process, and the struggle against the Parallel structure, and all other areas regarding the national security."

Eight of the departments aim at shaping the country's policies. These departments will operate under the both of two Presidential assistant secretary general, and will include the Domestic Security Department, Foreign Affairs Department, Strategy Department, Social and Cultural Affairs Department, Investment Monitoring Department, Information Technology Department, Corporate Communications Department, Public Relations Department.

All administrative and financial issues within the Presidency, human resources, juristic services, law, and decision departments will be under the supervision of the two secretary-generals.

It is said that especially the "Domestic Security Department" is a unit similar to the National Security Council of the USA. The "Domestic Security Department" established with the newly signed confidential decree will develop strategies and policies on issues of the national security.

This unit which will operate like a strategy centre will develop policies and strategies to fight against internal and external threats to the "state interest". It is stated that this unit will evaluate obtained information from intelligence units and security institutions under a strategic view; and in order to ensure a successful struggle, it will give advice. It is also stated that this unit will make scientific research in matters of terror and the structure of terror organisations, as well as the process of struggle, and will give support to the relevant units through its evaluations and analysis.

All these current steps are seen as the basis for the transformation into the presidential system.  If the AKP will achieve votes in the 2015 elections in the ratio it expects again, then there is hardly any obstacle in front of the AKP in order to start the presidential system with a new constitution. Even if it would not obtain the rate of votes hoped for, it is well-known that the HDP will support the presidential system.

All these current changes are related to the mission imposed on the AKP and Turkey. Because Turkey is not the same Turkey it was 10 years ago.  Turkey plays a mediation role in many parts of the world from Middle East to Africa and Central Asia. And exactly this situation makes Turkey very important. At the same time it is desired to present Turkey as a role-model to the Muslim Lands, where secularism and Islam can and do live together. We can easily say that the republic is re-built again with Erdogan. This regime which moulded in 90 years is being restored. However, no matter how often it will be formatted, no system is able to resist this huge change. Because regardless if it is a parliamentary system, a semi-presidential, or presidential system; all of them are based upon the rotten capitalist system.

 

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Osman Yeldiz