Turkish president’s daughter may engage in active politics, AKP deputy head suggests

ISTANBUL

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s daughter Sümeyye Erdoğan speaks during a meeting last month. AA Photo

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s daughter, adviser and confidante, Sümeyye Erdoğan, may run for Parliament from the ranks of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the party’s deputy head Süleyman Soylu suggested on Jan. 2, in a statement likely to trigger debate.

“Politics is about genetics. It can be transmitted through fathers and families. It’s a question of representing an era. Our president is part of active politics as the head of the executive, but it would be nice if Sümeyye Erdoğan presents her candidacy,” said Soylu during a program on Habertürk television.

Soylu’s words carry some weight in the AKP, as he is responsible for the party’s internal apparatus and operation.

The possibility of Sümeyye Erdoğan engaging in active politics has not been widely debated until now, but she is known to have been one of the closest figures to Erdoğan in recent years, taking part in many of his trips and visits.

If she did step into active politics, the Erdoğans would join a lengthy list of political dynasties across the world, such as the Bush or Clinton families in the U.S. or the Papandreus in Greece. In a similar vein, Marine Le Pen has taken over from his father Jean-Marie Le Pen as the new flagship-barrier of France’s far right as the leader of the National Front (FN).