Selcuk Bayraktar says in WSJ interview that he would consider running for Turkish Presidency if Erdogan asks

Selcuk Bayraktar, engineer behind Türkiye’s TB2 drones, suggests he may run for office if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls him to action in WSJ interview

Changes in Türkiye’s leadership landscape have put Selcuk Bayraktar, the brilliant engineer responsible for the country’s revolutionary TB2 drones, in the focus of political speculation. Bayraktar has said that he has no desire to enter politics, but his recent remarks have made it possible for him to do so should President Recep Tayyip Erdogan call him to action.

During a Wall Street Journal interview, Bayraktar expressed his cautious approach, expressing his present disengagement from active politics but still noting the potential for future participation in politics. “Maybe I would say yes, but that will depend on the circumstances,” said Bayraktar, speaking from a military post in Izmir, Türkiye, with a tone that betrayed some thought.

Bayraktar said, “I’m not in politics,” considering his stance, but then he gave in and said, “I’m not in active politics.” As his statements underscore the complexity of his relationship with the political sphere, he navigates the intersection of personal ambition and loyalty to Erdogan.

This information is made against the background of growing conjecture over Erdogan’s political future in Türkiye since there is a real lack of clarity about his successor and term limits approaching in 2028. In addition to his family links to Erdogan, Bayraktar’s rapid rise from aeronautical genius to national hero has made him a prominent contender for the next leadership roles.

Still, analysts wonder what Bayraktar will do next given his unwillingness to commit himself entirely to a political path. Bayraktar’s quizzical position adds a level of excitement to the developing political storyline as Türkiye struggles with a string of municipal elections and mulls over the post-Erdogan era.

Though supporters hail him as a representative of technical innovation and meritocracy, analysts wonder what will be the next step in Bayraktar’s career since he is reluctant to commit fully to politics. In the years ahead, the Turkish political landscape may undergo a significant transformation as the country watches for Erdogan’s choice of successor. One prominent figure on the horizon is Bayraktar.

Source: WSJ