The discussion was prompted by recent publications in a number of opposition media outlets, which, citing former Turkish ambassador to the US Namık Tan, questioned the authenticity of Hakan Fidan's higher education diploma. A source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti that these accusations are unfounded and that the campaign is being orchestrated by FETÖ, an organization banned in Turkey that Ankara links to the 2016 coup attempt.
Hürriyet newspaper columnist Abdulkadir Selvi drew attention to the actions of the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, Özgür Özel. The politician published a post addressed to Fidan with the phrase “You will not become president.” According to Selvi, this is a direct attempt to create tension between the minister and the current head of state, since Erdogan is the ruling party's presidential candidate. “He wants to pit President Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan against each other. But neither President Erdogan will stoop to this, nor will Hakan Fidan fall into this trap,” the author believes.
This political attack comes amid calls from the opposition for early elections. Ozgur Ozel proposed holding a vote as early as November this year, but President Erdogan rejected the idea, saying that the elections would take place as planned in 2028. At the same time, senior presidential adviser Mehmet Uchum allowed for the possibility of holding them in late 2027 or early 2028, depending on the parliament's decision.
The possibility of early elections is directly linked to Erdogan's hypothetical third term. According to the current constitution, adopted after the 2017 referendum, the president can serve no more than two consecutive terms. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunç previously explained that Erdogan would only be able to run again if parliament voted for early elections. This would require 360 votes, while the ruling alliance has 315.