Binali Yildirim’s reputation as the President’s “yes man” is very important in the current context because it comes as Erdogan tries to centralize his rule, clamp down on all form of dissent against him, and even rewrite Turkey’s constitution, which if Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman gets his way, will drop secularism in favor of making the cosmopolitan country an Islamic Republic.
This means that Turkey is on the verge on historic crossroads that threatens to redefine the very nature of the state in the run-up to its modern-day centennial anniversary, and Mr. Yildirim’s appointment is a pivotal step in President Erdogan’s plans.
Anton Fedyashin, professor of history at the American University in Washington DC (studio guest); Serap Balaman, Turkish independent political analyst; and Hasan Selim Ozertem, security expert and researcher at Ankara-based think-tank International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), shared their views.
