Mehmet Uçum: 'Erdoğan Could Run Through Renewal of Elections'
Presidential Chief Advisor Mehmet Uçum, who argued that early elections are not possible but "renewal of elections" is, said this would allow Erdoğan to run again. In his article published by Anadolu Agency, Uçum, who is also Vice Chairman of the Presidential Legal Policies Board, drew attention by using the term "renewal of elections" instead of "early elections."
Describing the term "early elections" as "an inability to break free from the parliamentary system mindset," Uçum stated, "First of all, there is no concept of early elections in the constitutional system. Both the president and the parliament are elected for a fixed five-year term. However, this term is not an absolute fixed period but a flexible fixed period because within this time, either the parliament or the president can decide to renew the elections.
The political and social outcome of this may be called 'early elections.' But its legal meaning and name is the renewal of elections," he claimed. Uçum emphasized that the debate should be conducted using the concept of "renewal of elections," adding, "The decision to renew elections can be made by the president. If he makes this decision during his first term, he forfeits the remaining period.
Also, if he intends to run again, he takes on the political and social risk of being elected. If a president decides to renew elections during his second term, he forfeits the remaining period and cannot run again."
Uçum noted that if the parliament is to decide on renewing elections, 360 deputies (a three-fifths majority) must approve the decision, adding, "Turkey is not in an extraordinary situation regarding the functioning of the political system. Moreover, there is no exceptional condition requiring the renewal of the parliament and government."
He said there is no need for a new constitution or constitutional amendment for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to run again, stating, "The current constitution already allows this. This exceptional candidacy opportunity comes into effect with the decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly to renew elections a certain period before the general elections scheduled for May 7, 2028.
For example, if the parliament decides to renew elections with the vote of at least 360 deputies in the last quarter of 2027 or early 2028, and President Erdoğan chooses to run, he can do so for the last time," he said. Uçum claimed that Erdoğan’s candidacy and election would greatly benefit Turkey.
Uçum added, "In essence, President Erdoğan does not need to become president again, but Turkey needs President Erdoğan once more." He predicted that the issue of renewing elections would focus on the exact election date during the six-month period from the last quarter of 2027 to the first quarter of 2028. One possible date is Sunday, April 16, 2028.
For the upcoming general elections to be held on Sunday, April 16, 2028, it is sufficient for the Turkish Grand National Assembly to decide to renew elections at an appropriate time before the normal election day of May 7, 2028, in the last legislative year of the 28th term. When the parliament makes this decision, President Erdoğan will already have the right to run one last time under the current constitution’s exceptional candidacy provision.
If the parliament takes such a decision, holding the general elections on April 16, which is the anniversary of the referendum that approved the Presidential Government System, would carry strong symbolic meaning. However, this is only a suggestion. Of course, the final authority and discretion on this matter belong to the parliament," he concluded.
