Jam Ozan, the founder of the opposition Youth Party in Turkey, stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to change the constitution to allow him to run for president for a third time.
The online site of the opposition newspaper "Sozcu" reported today, Saturday, Ozan's clarification that Erdogan has been elected twice, and thus, without a constitutional change, he cannot be a candidate again. The founder of the opposition Youth Party pointed out that according to the current constitution, a person can only be elected twice, questioning whether the president is claiming he can be a candidate without a constitutional change. "He cannot because the constitution is clear," Ozan noted.
Ozan also highlighted that Devlet Bahceli, the head of the Nationalist Movement Party, clarified that Erdogan is the presidential candidate for the 2023 coalition, questioning if this opposing figure speaks without knowing the constitution. He answered, "No… he knows the constitution well and understands very well what that clause means about not electing a person more than twice."
Ozan further questioned how many times the constitution has been changed, stating, "I don't remember; it has changed many times. It was last changed in 2017. Erdogan wrote the constitution that was changed in 2017, then promoted this constitution and convinced the nation, and it came into effect. Why change it again now?"
Additionally, Turkish journalist Orhan Oğur Oğlu mentioned that President Erdogan is not supposed to be among the candidates in the 2023 elections, in an article published in the Turkish newspaper "Yeni Çağ" on Saturday. He stated, "I am explaining a very important decision for Erdogan. Erdogan will not be a presidential candidate in 2023."
Oğur Oğlu referenced an interview Erdogan conducted in 1999, where he stated, "I can join a new party... However, I have conditions. Those over 65 years of age will not be able to engage in politics in this party." The writer added, "It is supposed that the leader of the Justice and Development Party meets everything he says; Erdogan turned 67 and will turn 70 in 2024. As you know, Erdogan will certainly keep his promise. The supporters of the Justice and Development Party and Devlet Bahceli must find age-appropriate candidates for the elections."
