Erdogan's tensions with predecessor erupt into open feud

ISTANBUL—AlongsimmeringfeudbetweenTurkishPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his predecessor and one-time comrade Abdullah Gul has erupted into an acrimonious public row, raising questions about the former head of state's future political intentions.

Gul and Erdogan co-founded the ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) that dominated Turkish politics since 2002, with Gul serving as premier, foreign minister and then president from 2007-2014.

Since leaving office, Gul kept a guarded silence as Erdogan moved to expand the powers of the presidency as rumors swirled the former president was alarmed over Turkey's course and bitterly resented being excluded from the ruling party.

Gul was said to be particularly unhappy over an April referendum Erdogan called –and narrowly won– to expand the powers of the presidency.

But an emergency decree issued last month which says civilians would not face legal action over any behavior in thwarting the 2016 coup sparked fears of mob rule and a rare intervention fromGul.

Gul labelled the decree "worrisome in terms of the understanding of the rule of law" and risked "developments in the future that would upset us all."

Erdogan, without naming Gul, spat back those worried about the decree were no different from people who turned down the constitutional changes in the April referendum.

Abdulkadir Selvi, pro-Erdogan columnist in the Hurriyet newspaper, added fuel to the flames saying talk was growing that Gul could emerge as a presidential candidate of the Turkish opposition to challenge Erdogan in 2019 elections.

He said that Erdogan had already "seen the plot" and the row over the immunity decree was "only tip of an iceberg."

Gul then hit back at criticism from "some MPs and trolls," saying that they "exceeded the limits of morality."

"As a person who believes in freedom of thought and expression, one of the founding principles of our party, I will continue to express my opinion on occasions I deem necessary."

The nationalist Aydinlik newspaper added that Gul had been engaged in "election traffic" with an intensive travel schedule that included trips to Qatar, SaudiArabia, Britain as well as keeping in close touch with ex-premierAhmet Davutoglu who was ousted in 2016.

Analysts say that the current row represented a new step by Gul, a hugely prudent figure who has so far kept any criticism of his former ally deeply private.

But it would also be premature to assume Gul was throwing down a gauntlet to Erdogan ahead of the 2019 elections that could ultimately result in a ballot box showdown.

"Despite the rifts that emerged between the two from time to time, they have never been rivals," pollsterAdil Gur, who runsA&G Research, told AFP.

"I believe Gul will not run as candidate and even if he does, I don't think he will have any chance," Gur said.

The dispute likely first erupted in May-June 2013 when Erdogan refused any compromise faced with unprecedented antigovernment protests whereas Gul advocated a more conciliatory approach.

The referendum appears to have been a breaking point, with Gul reportedly refusing to back the presidential system plan in a tense hours-long meeting with Erdogan ahead of the poll.