ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, hand-picked by president-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan to succeed him as prime minister, is expected to accept a largely backseat role as his boss strives to make his new job the most powerful position in the land.
But Davutoglu is known to be ambitious – and Turkey has seen cases in the past where presidents have tried and failed to control their prime ministers.
Erdogan, who nominated Davutoglu Thursday to be premier, is counting that the 55-year-old continue to be the staunch loyalist he proved himself to be during Erdogan’s long tenure as premier. While he has a patchy foreign policy record, Davutoglu also commands respect within the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and is seen as a politician who can steer the party to another victory in elections next year.
A former professor of international relations, Davutoglu has led Turkey’s foreign policy since 2003 both as foreign minister and as Erdogan’s chief adviser. He is expected to be confirmed as the AKP’s chairman at a party congress next week, before being appointed by Erdogan to form a government early next month.
Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for over a decade, became Turkey’s first popularly voted president in elections on Aug. 10. He takes office on Aug. 28.