Iako ga mnogi smatraju vjerovatnim kandidatom AKP-a, ako bi on postao predsjednik, to bi ga obavezalo da napusti vodstvo stranke -- čime bi eventualno oslabio AKP pred parlamentarne izbore.
While many consider him the likely AKP candidate, becoming president would oblige him to give up the party leadership -- potentially weakening AKP ahead of the parliamentary elections.