The election of pro-reform judge Ahmet Necdet Sezer as president of Turkey is a boost for the country's drive for stronger democracy, but his impact will depend largely on how much influence he wields over lawmakers, analysts said.
Sezer, the experienced 59-year-old jurist at the helm of the constitutional court, was elected Friday by parliament to replace President Suleyman Demirel when his mandate expires on May 16.
The judge has won heaps of praise for speeches in which he advocated legal reform in a country that is often under fire from the West for its poor record on democracy and human rights.
His remarks in favor of amending the constitution, dictated largely by the military after the 1980 military coup, come as a promising sign at a time when Ankara has committed itself to extensive reforms to become eligible for European Union membership.
Minutes after he was officially notified of his election as president, Sezer kept up his traditional criticism of Turkey's lack of democratic progress.
"The concept of democracy has not fledged fully in political and social life," he told a press conference on Friday.
"If we believe in the existence and supremacy of the constitution ... democracy and other democratic values should be installed in our system in line with the principle of a state based on the rule of law," he added.
Liberal columnists have been greatly encouraged by such remarks.
"Sezer could play a constructive role in remedying Turkey's deficiencies in democracy and human rights," wrote Hasan Cemal in the Milliyet daily newspaper.
Another Milliyet columnist, Derya Sazak, added that Sezer's unflinching belief in freedom of expression would be a "guarantee" that Turkey would fulfill the necessary criteria for EU membership.
The same view is shared by western diplomats, who were nonetheless careful to underline that Turkish presidents do not have the right to change or make laws.
"Nobody knows what he will be like as a president, but it is positive that somebody who (speaks in favor of democratization) is becoming president," one diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Another diplomat added that Sezer could "accompany and encourage" the democratization process in Turkey, but could not be expected to start a revolution.
But, Sezer, who lacks political experience, remains largely unknown to the public and some analysts are reserving judgment, preferring to wait and see how he fares in an office, which has previously been occupied by influential figures.
The Turkish presidency is largely ceremonial, but a president is also head of the National Security Council, which is dominated by the powerful military and exerts a strong influence over Turkey's domestic and foreign policies.
And Sezer's predecessors, Demirel and the late Turgut Ozal, have set an example as canny and experienced politicians who could manipulate and influence parliament easily.
Sezer has already hinted that he is unwilling to exceed the powers the constitution grants to presidents.
In a speech late April to mark the 38th anniversary of the constitutional court, he even strongly criticized the extensive powers of presidents, which he said surpassed the limits of parliamentary democracy.
His remarks were hailed as a sign that Sezer's term in office would be a return to a political system spearhead by parliament and not by the president.
"Sezer will start a new era in the presidency as we will now have an administration based on the government and parliament rather than the presidential palace," Sazak wrote in Milliyet.
A western diplomat noted that Sezer could create an atmosphere that would fuel democratic reforms only if he opts to exert political influence.
"If he succeeds he could play a rather important role regarding human rights, respect of international law and Turkey's orientation," he said – ANKARA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
