Ahmet Davutoğlu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ahmet Davutoğlu
Davutoğlu in 2013
Leader of the Future Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 December 2019
Preceded by	Party established
26th Prime Minister of Turkey
In office 28 August 2014 – 22 May 2016
President	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Deputy	Cabinet I (2014–2015) Bülent Arınç Ali Babacan Yalçın Akdoğan Numan Kurtulmuş Cabinet II (2015) Yalçın Akdoğan Numan Kurtulmuş Cevdet Yılmaz Tuğrul Türkeş Cabinet III (2015–2016) Yalçın Akdoğan Numan Kurtulmuş Tuğrul Türkeş Lütfi Elvan Mehmet Şimşek
Preceded by	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Succeeded by	Binali Yıldırım
Leader of the Justice and Development Party
In office 27 August 2014 – 22 May 2016
Preceded by	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Succeeded by	Binali Yıldırım
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 1 May 2009 – 29 August 2014
Prime Minister	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Preceded by	Ali Babacan
Succeeded by	Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Member of the Grand National Assembly
In office 28 June 2011 – 7 July 2018
Constituency	Konya (2011, June 2015, Nov 2015)
Personal details
Born	(1959-02-26) 26 February 1959 (age 66) Taşkent, Konya, Turkey
Political party	Future Party (2019–present)
Other political affiliations	Justice and Development Party (2002–2019)
Spouse	Sare Kundak ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	5
Alma mater	Istanbul High School Boğaziçi University
Signature

Ahmet Davutoğlu (born 26 February 1959) is a Turkish academic, politician, and former diplomat. He served as the 26th Prime Minister of Turkey and Leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) from 2014 to 2016. Before that, he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2014. He also worked as a chief advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from 2003 to 2009.

Davutoğlu was elected as an AKP Member of Parliament for Konya in the 2011 general election. He was reelected in both the June and November 2015 general elections. He stepped down as prime minister on 22 May 2016.

After Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became the 12th President of Turkey, Davutoğlu was chosen to lead the AKP. He became the party leader and then prime minister, forming the 62nd Government of Turkey. His government included many of Erdoğan's close friends. This led some people to think he would let Erdoğan continue to guide political decisions.

The AKP lost its majority in the June 2015 general election, but it was still the largest party. Davutoğlu's government resigned but stayed in power until a new government could be formed. After trying to form a coalition with other parties, Davutoğlu was asked to create Turkey's first interim election government. This government prepared for new elections in November 2015. The AKP won back its majority in November, and Davutoğlu formed his third government.

Later, disagreements grew between Davutoğlu and Erdoğan about government policies and the idea of a stronger presidential system. Davutoğlu announced he would resign as AKP leader and prime minister seven months after the November 2015 election victory. He said an extraordinary party meeting would be held on 22 May 2016, and he would not run for leader again. Binali Yıldırım took over as leader, and Davutoğlu resigned as Prime Minister soon after.

During Davutoğlu's time as prime minister, there was an increase in conflict between the government and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). This happened after a two-year ceasefire ended in mid-2015. His government also dealt with ongoing political issues and the effects of the Syrian Civil War spreading into Turkey. The European migrant crisis also became a major challenge. Davutoğlu aimed for Turkey to join the European Union. However, he faced criticism for not doing enough to stop political corruption and for an increase in government control.

In September 2019, Davutoğlu left the AKP. He said his former party could no longer find solutions for Turkey. On 12 December 2019, he started his own party, the Future Party (GP). He became its first leader. This party later joined the Nation Alliance, which opposes the AKP and Erdoğan.

Life and Early Career

Ahmet Davutoğlu was born in Taşkent, Konya, Turkey. He went to Istanbul High School, which is a German International School. He then studied Economics and Political Science at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. He earned a master's degree in public administration and a PhD in political science and international relations from the same university.

From 1993 to 1996, Davutoğlu taught political science at International Islamic University Malaysia. He later worked at Marmara University from 1996 to 1999, becoming a full professor. He also led the Department of International Relations at Beykent University in Istanbul. Between 1995 and 1999, he wrote weekly articles for the Turkish newspaper Yeni Şafak.

In 2003, Davutoğlu was given the title of ambassador. This decision was made by both President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Abdullah Gül.

Davutoğlu has written several books, including Strategic Depth, which became very important for Turkey's foreign policy. It even became a bestseller in Greece in 2010. He speaks Turkish, German, English, Arabic, and Malay.

Advisor to the Prime Minister

Davutoğlu became Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's main foreign policy advisor after Erdoğan became prime minister. He helped shape the Justice and Development Party's new foreign policy, which aimed for Turkey to have a bigger role in the Middle East. During the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, Davutoğlu helped coordinate Turkey's responses. In 2007, he said Turkey was against US troops entering northern Iraq because of concerns about Kurdish groups there.

Foreign Policy Ideas

Based on his writings, many people believe Davutoğlu's foreign policy aims to build stronger ties with countries that were once part of the Ottoman Empire. This idea is known as Neo-Ottomanism.

Another idea is that Davutoğlu's foreign policy is based on Pan-Islamism. This means he sees Islam as a way to unite countries in the Middle East. However, Davutoğlu has also supported a pro-Western policy, like Turkey's membership in NATO and the European Union.

Neo-Ottomanism

Davutoğlu has said that Turkey should be more than just a regional power in Europe and the Middle East. He wants Ankara to have a much bigger role in world politics. He is often linked to the idea of Turkish neo-Ottomanism, which supports closer ties with its neighbors and old Ottoman connections.

Davutoğlu himself does not like the term "neo-Ottomanism" to describe his policies. He said that Turkey, as a country, is equal to any other country in the region. He explained that Turkey is not trying to control anyone but is working to create lasting peace in the region. In 2013, Davutoğlu spoke about creating a closer union between former Ottoman lands. He made it clear that this would not involve making claims on historical territories.

Pan-Islamism

Some experts believe Davutoğlu has pan-Islamic ideas rather than neo-Ottoman ones. This view suggests that he sees Islam as the main way to unite people in the Middle East. Pan-Islamism often criticizes Turkey's efforts to join Western nations. Instead, it supports a union within the Middle East to increase strength and unity among different peoples. Since many different cultures and races live in the Middle East, pan-Islamists believe that only Islam can create a strong and lasting union.

Some also suggest that Davutoğlu does not fully believe in the European Union and instead wants an Islamic Union.

Minister of Foreign Affairs (2009–14)

Davutoğlu became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2009. He later became a Member of Parliament for Konya in the 2011 general election. He continued to serve as foreign minister in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's third government.

Foreign Policy magazine named him one of the "Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2010." They recognized him for his ideas that helped Turkey become more active globally. He spoke about his "Zero Problems Policy," explaining that it means having good relations with other countries if they respect Turkey's values.

In 2010, Davutoğlu outlined four main goals for his foreign policy:

• Security for everyone.
• Open discussions and talks.
• Countries depending on each other economically.
• Cultural understanding and respect.

He said his policy aimed to bring nations together and build understanding between different faiths and cultures. He also wanted to keep cooperation and peaceful talks to solve problems.

Later, in 2013 and 2014, some people criticized Davutoğlu's time as foreign minister. They pointed to challenges in Turkey's policy on the Syrian Civil War and efforts to increase influence in former Ottoman states.

Armenia

On 24 April 2014, Davutoğlu and Tayyip Erdoğan released a statement in nine languages, including Armenian. They agreed that the 1915 Armenian deportations were inhumane. They also said that Turkish, Armenian, and foreign historians should study these events. However, they did not recognize the Armenian genocide.

Egypt

Davutoğlu oversaw a big improvement in relations with Egypt after Mohamed Morsi was elected president in 2012. However, relations quickly worsened after Morsi was removed from power in 2013. Davutoğlu and Erdoğan strongly criticized Morsi's removal.

Davutoğlu compared Morsi's removal to past military takeovers in Turkey. He also criticized the decision to sentence many Muslim Brotherhood members to death. Relations became strained, with Egypt expelling the Turkish ambassador. Erdoğan then declared the Egyptian ambassador unwelcome in Turkey.

European Union

Davutoğlu has supported Turkey's goal of joining the European Union. However, talks slowed down in mid-2012 because of Turkey's policy on Cyprus. Davutoğlu said Turkey would not "beg" for EU membership.

In May 2013, Davutoğlu said that Turkey had aimed for EU membership for 50 years and would continue to do so. He also stated that it was wrong for Turkish citizens to be denied the right to travel freely within Europe. Talks stalled further after the Gezi Park protests began and the Turkish government faced criticism for its handling of protesters.

Davutoğlu has argued that Turkey's EU membership would help it build stronger ties in the Balkan and Mediterranean regions. He also believes it could help reduce poverty in North Africa by using Turkey's influence in both the EU and the Islamic world. He has said that Turkey's multicultural identity and history make it naturally responsible for bringing peace and stability to the world.

Greece and Cyprus

In June 2012, Davutoğlu said that the Greek government was not respecting the rights of Turkish minorities, especially in Western Thrace.

In 2013, Davutoğlu discussed a possible two-state solution for the Cyprus dispute with the Greek Foreign Minister. This came after arguments about who owned offshore oil reserves. Davutoğlu also said that talks to solve the dispute would speed up under the new Cypriot President, Nikos Anastasiadis.

On the issue of turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque, Davutoğlu stated that all international laws would be followed. He also asked the Greek government to respect the religious freedoms of Muslims in Greece.

Iran

As foreign minister, Davutoğlu expressed concerns about Iran's nuclear program. However, his policy was also to build relations with Iran, as it is Turkey's second-largest oil supplier. Davutoğlu said that Turkey had no plans to stop buying Iranian oil, and that sanctions against Iran had also hurt Turkey. He wanted Turkey to become an "energy corridor" for oil from the East.

After a temporary deal on Iran's nuclear program was reached in Geneva, Davutoğlu congratulated Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. He said that lifting sanctions would help both Turkey and Iran.

There were some disagreements when Turkey decided to host a NATO missile defense system against Syrian forces in 2012. Iran supported Syria's leader, Bashar Al Assad, which was different from Davutoğlu's view. However, relations regarding Syria improved in 2013. Davutoğlu and the Iranian Foreign Minister jointly called for a ceasefire before peace talks in January 2014.

Iraq and ISIL

Davutoğlu stated that Turkey's policy against the Islamic State (IS) was to prevent violence by reaching out to all communities. He also expressed concern about how the unrest affected Iraq's Turkmen and Yazidi minorities.

Davutoğlu's policy on IS faced criticism for being inactive. He responded by saying that "anyone who claims that IS receives support from Turkey is wrong." He also stated that Turkey is the biggest helper for humanitarian aid in Iraq.

Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government

Relations between Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq became stronger after a ceasefire with PKK rebels. In 2014, Davutoğlu visited northern Iraq and met with regional President Massoud Barzani several times. He said Turkey wanted closer ties with the KRG in diplomacy and oil trade.

Israel and Gaza

Before becoming foreign minister, Davutoğlu played a key role in talks to resolve the 2008 Israel–Gaza conflict.

After the Mavi Marmara incident in May 2010, Davutoğlu set three conditions for Turkey and Israel to have normal relations again. He said Israel should apologize for the incident, pay compensation, and lift the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. An apology was given in March 2013, and compensation deals were completed in 2014.

During the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, Davutoğlu actively helped by providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Relations between Turkey and Israel worsened significantly during this time.

Libyan Civil War

Davutoğlu focused on helping Libyan civilians during the Civil War. In a 2011 conference, he said that ending civilian suffering was more important than removing Muammar Gaddafi from power. He urged NATO to do more to make Gaddafi respect the rights of Libyan citizens. However, he warned against a full military intervention, saying the situation should not become like the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

In April 2011, Davutoğlu announced that the Turkish government had cut ties with Gaddafi's government. Instead, Turkey recognized the National Transitional Council as the rightful government of Libya and promised more financial aid to the rebels.

Russia and Crimea

Davutoğlu helped maintain ties between Turkey and Russia, even though they had different views on the annexation of Crimea and the Syrian Civil War. Economic relations with Russia are important because Turkey imports natural gas from there. The two countries started the High-Level Cooperation Council in 2010 to review their relations each year.

Davutoğlu has supported a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine and Crimea through talks. He also expressed concern about how Crimean Tatars were treated by Russian forces. He called for Russia to allow Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev to return to Crimea and to respect international law. Davutoğlu stated that Turkey would not recognize the results of the status referendum in Crimea.

Somalia

Davutoğlu played a key role in Turkey's close ties with the Federal Government of Somalia. After security improved in Mogadishu in mid-2011, the Turkish government reopened its embassy there. This was to help more effectively with Somalia's development after the conflict. Turkey was one of the first countries to restart formal diplomatic relations with Somalia after its civil war. Davutoğlu encouraged other nations to do the same.

In May 2013, Davutoğlu attended the Somalia Conference in London. He stressed the importance of supporting President Mohamud's Six-Pillar Policy for Somalia. He also helped arrange national reconciliation talks in Ankara between the Somali federal government and the Somaliland regional administration.

Syrian Civil War

The Turkish government strongly opposed Bashar Al Assad in the Syrian Civil War. Davutoğlu supported strengthening the rebels against Assad's government.

In September 2012, Davutoğlu called for "safe zones" in northern Syria. These zones would help refugees and reduce civilian deaths. He warned that if the world continued to do nothing about Syria, it would lead to failure, like in the Bosnia.

In May 2014, Davutoğlu said that Turkey had spent US$3 billion on refugee camps. He stressed that the United Nations needed to do more to help fund them. He also said that "the world has failed Syria." Davutoğlu promised to support the United States if they decided to take military action in Syria.

On 23 March 2014, a Syrian fighter jet was shot down by the Turkish Armed Forces. Davutoğlu claimed the jet had entered Turkish airspace, but Syrian authorities denied this.

Domestic Views

Even as foreign minister, Davutoğlu played an active role in shaping domestic policy. This was especially true during the 2013–14 protests in Turkey and the 2013 government corruption scandal. His strong support for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during these events was seen as a key reason for him being chosen to succeed Erdoğan as AKP leader in August 2014.

Reyhanlı Bombings

After an attack in Reyhanlı that killed 52 people, Davutoğlu stated that the attackers were "known" and had been caught. He warned against trying to hide the suspects.

2013–14 Anti-Government Protests

Davutoğlu strongly criticized the anti-government protests that began in May 2013. He said that the protests were a critical event in Turkish politics. He also criticized the media for supporting the protests.

In an article for The Guardian, Davutoğlu defended the police's actions against protesters. He claimed that the initially peaceful demonstrations had been taken over by militant groups. He also argued that his party was not using unfair methods. Instead, he said the government was separating violent groups from peaceful protests to maintain law and order.

2014 Soma Mining Disaster

After an explosion in the Soma coal mine on 13 May that killed 301 miners, Davutoğlu turned down all international offers for help. He thanked the nations for their offers but said Turkish rescue workers could handle the disaster without foreign aid.

Speaking from the Turkish Embassy in London, Davutoğlu offered his condolences. He said Turkey had faced similar challenges before, like earthquakes.

In an interview with CNN, he promised that everything would be done to find out what caused the accident. He also said that he and Erdoğan understood the pain of the people during such emotional times.

Premiership (2014–16)

Ahmet Davutoğlu became the 26th Prime Minister of Turkey on 29 August 2014. This happened after his predecessor, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was elected as the 12th President of Turkey. Davutoğlu then led the 62nd government of Turkey.

Some people compared Davutoğlu's rise to that of Yıldırım Akbulut in 1989. Akbulut became prime minister after President Turgut Özal was elected. Many believed Akbulut took a quiet approach while President Özal made key decisions. This was similar to what some expected from Davutoğlu, as Erdoğan had said he would continue to be involved in political affairs despite his ceremonial role as president.

Election as AKP Leader

When Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became president, the leadership of the AKP became open for the first time. On 21 August 2014, Davutoğlu was suggested as a candidate to lead the party. He was chosen without opposition at the party's first extraordinary congress on 27 August, receiving 1,382 votes. He then formed his government on the 29th, as Erdoğan became president.

Davutoğlu was chosen because he strongly supported Prime Minister Erdoğan during the 2013–14 anti-government protests and the 17 December 2013 government corruption scandal. He was seen as a close ally who could work well with Erdoğan after he became president. Davutoğlu's loyalty and similar foreign policy ideas, as well as his involvement in events like the Gaza conflict and the Syrian Civil War, earned him strong support from AKP members.

Some critics thought Davutoğlu's loyalty would allow Erdoğan to continue controlling the government as president. However, others believed Davutoğlu would be more independent, based on his actions as foreign minister.

Economic Policy

Ali Babacan remained Deputy Prime Minister in Davutoğlu's new government, in charge of the economy. Babacan supported free-market policies and an independent Turkish Central Bank. This was sometimes different from Erdoğan's views. Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, who supported Babacan, also kept his job.

Davutoğlu became prime minister during a time of economic slowdown. He blamed this on the weak global economy, especially in the Eurozone. The government lowered its economic growth predictions for 2014 and 2015. Davutoğlu announced plans to boost the economy by connecting more with the global market. These plans included a 9-point program to improve technology, energy, health, and tourism.

Constitutional Reform

Davutoğlu stated that his main goal was to create a new constitution after the June 2015 general election. He asked opposition parties to be more involved in this process. He said the current constitution did not have enough checks and balances or guarantee a stable democracy. He wanted a more open and diverse constitution that would meet the needs of modern Turkey.

Workers' Rights

Turkey has a high number of worker deaths in Europe, and the third highest in the world. After the Soma mine disaster in 2013, working conditions in Turkey faced a lot of international and national attention. Davutoğlu's government promised to improve worker safety.

On 10 September 2014, the government passed a new law. This law removed the debts of families of those killed in Soma. It also gave at least one family member the right to work in a state job and provided a "death salary." The new law also limited workers to 36 hours a week and 6 hours a day. It also lowered the retirement age from 55 to 50.

On 6 September, an accident at a construction site in Şişli, Istanbul, killed 10 workers. This led to renewed anger about the lack of job safety. Davutoğlu promised to review laws about workplace safety. He also said he would meet with workers' unions and call the families of those killed to offer his sympathy.

Resignation as Prime Minister

On 5 May 2016, Davutoğlu announced he would resign as leader of the AKP. He said an Extraordinary Party Congress would be held on 22 May 2016 to choose a new leader. He would not run for re-election, which meant he was also resigning as Prime Minister of Turkey. His resignation came after his relationship with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became very difficult. Erdoğan supported a stronger presidential system, which would reduce the powers of the Prime Minister.

Relationship with Erdoğan

Many people noticed a growing power struggle between Davutoğlu and Erdoğan before the June 2015 general election. There were disagreements about the AKP's list of candidates for parliament.

In January, Erdoğan led a cabinet meeting, which was unusual for a president. This led to talk on social media about Davutoğlu looking unhappy. Davutoğlu later praised Erdoğan and said his power as prime minister had not been weakened. He added that there was no disagreement between the government and the presidency.

April–May 2016 Disagreements

By late April and early May 2016, the relationship between Davutoğlu and Erdoğan was very strained. A list of 27 disagreements, called the Pelican files, was shared online by Erdoğan's supporters. This list made their disagreements public. It claimed that Davutoğlu did not support Erdoğan's wish for a stronger presidential system. It also said Davutoğlu disagreed with Erdoğan's policy of only using military action against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

In late April, the AKP's Central Executive Decision Committee voted to take away the party leader's power to appoint local party officials. Even though Davutoğlu said he supported this decision, it was believed that Erdoğan had told the committee members to do it.

Meeting with Erdoğan and Resignation Speech

On 4 May 2016, Davutoğlu met Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex. The meeting lasted for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Soon after, it was announced that the AKP would hold an Extraordinary Congress in late May and that Davutoğlu would not be a candidate. This confirmed that they had not reached an agreement.

The next day, Davutoğlu met with the party's committee one last time. He then announced that the party would hold an Extraordinary Congress on 22 May. He stated he would not run as a candidate, confirming his resignation as party leader and Prime Minister. He said he would not try to divide the party and would continue to support Erdoğan. He also said his resignation was not his choice but had become necessary.

Domestic and Global Reactions

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called the resignation the "4 May Palace Coup." They said Erdoğan had removed a prime minister who was elected for a four-year term just seven months earlier. CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called for all democrats to "resist" the coup.

The White House said they did not expect any change in Turkish-American relations because of Davutoğlu's departure. They called him a "good ally" to the United States. The German government also said they would work well with Turkey's next Prime Minister. They stressed that the EU-Turkey Deal on the Migrant Crisis was between Turkey and the EU, not just with Davutoğlu.

The Turkish lira dropped sharply against the US dollar after the announcement. Many international media commentators saw Davutoğlu's resignation as a sign that Erdoğan did not tolerate any disagreement with his goal of making Turkey an executive presidency. Both Turkish and international journalists believed that Davutoğlu's successor would be much more willing to follow Erdoğan's political agenda.

Future Party (GP)

In December 2019, Davutoğlu founded his own party, the Future Party (Turkish: Gelecek Partisi, GP). This party is a right-leaning conservative party. It supports returning to a parliamentary system and creating a new constitution for Turkey.

Electoral Record

As Prime Minister, Davutoğlu took part in two general elections. He was an AKP candidate in the 2011 election. He led the AKP in both the June 2015 and November 2015 general elections.

General Elections

Davutoğlu became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2009, even though he was not a Member of Parliament. He was elected as an MP for Konya in the 2011 general election. His party won almost 70% of the votes in Konya, which was the highest for the AKP in any province. He continued as foreign minister after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan formed his third government.

As leader of the AKP, Davutoğlu led the party in the 2015 general election. The election results were disappointing for the AKP. The party won 40.87% of the votes, which was a decrease of almost 9% since 2011. They lost their parliamentary majority for the first time since 2002. Even with 258 seats (276 needed for a majority), Davutoğlu gave a speech declaring victory.

General election record of Ahmet Davutoğlu      0–10%         10–20%         20–30%         30–40%         40–50%         50–60%         60–70%         70–80%
Party		Election	Vote	Seats	Result	Outcome	Map
	AKP	7 June 2015	18,867,411	258 / 550 ( 69)	40.87% &nbsp8.96 pp	#1st Hung parliament
	AKP	1 November 2015	23,681,926	317 / 550 ( 59)	49.50% 8.63 pp	#1st AKP majority
	GP	2023		10 / 600 (new)		AKP majority

Local Elections

Party		Election	Votes	Share of votes	Map
	GP	2024	34,2120	.07%

Selected Works

• Alternative Paradigms: The Impact of Islamic and Western Weltanschauungs on Political Theory. University Press of America, 1993
• Civilizational Transformation and the Muslim World. Quill, 1994
• Stratejik derinlik: Türkiye'nin uluslararası konumu. Küre Yayınları, 2001
• Osmanlı Medeniyeti: Siyaset İktisat Sanat. Klasik, 2005
• Küresel Bunalım. Küre, 2002.

See Also

In Spanish: Ahmet Davutoğlu para niños

• Foreign policy of the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan government
• List of Turkish diplomats
• Intermediate Region
• Hellenoturkism
• Ali Babacan