Rumors of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's poor health were bolstered recently by an article in early October in Foreign Policy entitled "Erdogan Might be Too Sick to Keep Leading Turkey." Although the article refrained from stating unequivocally that this is indeed the case, it relies in part on videos circulated on social media, in which Erdogan is seen having difficulty walking or falling asleep while speaking.
A recent such video was released from the G-20 conference in Italy in late October. Many have linked the latest video, in which he seems to have a hard time walking, to the fact that he canceled his trip to the climate conference now underway in Glasgow (it was officially claimed that he did not travel to Glasgow due to disagreements over the security arrangements there). Although it is quite clear from the videos that the President is not well, still, based on his schedule, and in particular the number of speeches and his trips abroad, it seems he is in good enough condition to conduct state affairs. It is also likely that similar to other leaders, he too receives the most advanced medical treatments.
The videos and counter-videos distributed by official elements to show that the President is in good shape sharpen the question of what will happen in Turkey in the post-Erdogan era. Erdogan has not designated an heir for himself, and so it is unclear whether after his departure there will be an orderly temporary transfer of power to the vice president as written in the constitution, or chaos. The question mark over the performance of the President also strengthens the calls of opposition elements in Turkey against the presidential system of government introduced by Erdogan. The demand to return to the parliamentary system is a strong theme that unites very different opposition elements in Turkey, and prepares the ground for a close struggle in the presidential and parliamentary elections planned for 2023.
Rumors of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's poor health were bolstered recently by an article in early October in Foreign Policy entitled "Erdogan Might be Too Sick to Keep Leading Turkey." Although the article refrained from stating unequivocally that this is indeed the case, it relies in part on videos circulated on social media, in which Erdogan is seen having difficulty walking or falling asleep while speaking.
A recent such video was released from the G-20 conference in Italy in late October. Many have linked the latest video, in which he seems to have a hard time walking, to the fact that he canceled his trip to the climate conference now underway in Glasgow (it was officially claimed that he did not travel to Glasgow due to disagreements over the security arrangements there). Although it is quite clear from the videos that the President is not well, still, based on his schedule, and in particular the number of speeches and his trips abroad, it seems he is in good enough condition to conduct state affairs. It is also likely that similar to other leaders, he too receives the most advanced medical treatments.
The videos and counter-videos distributed by official elements to show that the President is in good shape sharpen the question of what will happen in Turkey in the post-Erdogan era. Erdogan has not designated an heir for himself, and so it is unclear whether after his departure there will be an orderly temporary transfer of power to the vice president as written in the constitution, or chaos. The question mark over the performance of the President also strengthens the calls of opposition elements in Turkey against the presidential system of government introduced by Erdogan. The demand to return to the parliamentary system is a strong theme that unites very different opposition elements in Turkey, and prepares the ground for a close struggle in the presidential and parliamentary elections planned for 2023.