Turkey’s authoritarian ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan, troubled by growing health problems, has put in motion plans to properly groom and prepare his son to succeed him, setting the stage for creating a family dynasty against the backdrop of dismantling democratic institutions in Turkey, a weak, fragmented opposition and amassing huge family wealth estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Necmettin Bilal Erdogan, the 42-year-old younger son in the family, is not in charge of any public office, but he should perhaps be considered to be the most influential person in the governance of Turkey. An ideological zealot, he operates from the shadows. He is aided and abetted by his father’s repressive, unaccountable regime and an extensive network of cronies strategically planted in key government positions.

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The road markers for such a prospect were already visible in the key appointments made by President Erdogan after the elections in May and the subsequent cabinet reshuffle. While it’s unclear if Erdogan intends to voluntarily step down from politics, his deteriorating health, which includes cancer treatment, recurring epilepsy episodes and occasional memory lapses, may necessitate planning for a smooth succession in case of any future challenges to his leadership.

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