Ottoman dynasty member eyes Turkish Parliament seat

One of the descendants of the Ottoman dynasty is seeking to play an active role in Turkish politics by running for Parliament in the next election, likely as an independent.

“We will not establish an autocracy nor raise a caliphate; our only purpose is to give voice to the Osmanoğlu family in the Parliament,” Orhan Osmanoğlu told the Hürriyet Daily News.

He said the family decided not to speak out about such aspirations until the June 12 general election was over, adding that although they have been receiving offers from several parties, they refused them due to the timing.

“It is very important that one of the descendants of the dynasty be in the Parliament. Some right-wing parties are very respectful toward our family, therefore as the Osmanoğlu family, we could play a consolidator role in bringing right-wing parties together,” said Osmanoğlu.

He emphasized that he would rather not be under any party’s leadership, but would take opposing stances as an independent figure.

“As the public already knows us, I do not see any reason why they would develop an apprehension toward us,” Osmanoğlu said. Describing his political goals, he said he aims to see Turkey become among the world’s top five countries in terms of trade. He added that he wants to increase income equality and is considering supporting an increase in the army’s budget.

The Ottoman family advocates democracy and the Turkish Republic, Osmanoğlu said, adding that his aim of reaching Parliament conforms to this goal. “I am aiming for a representation that will suit the structure of the Turkish Parliament,” he said.

‘Erdoğan not dreaming of sultanhood’

Asked his opinion on members of the domestic and international media referring to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as “Sultan Erdoğan” after his party won the elections, Osmanoğlu said he does not believe Erdoğan acts like a sultan.

The prime minister draws crowds with his charisma and strong personality, as he demonstrated in his outburst toward Israeli President Shimon Peres at the Davos summit in January 2009, Osmanoğlu added.

Turkey as a role model

Like many members of the Ottoman family, Orhan Osmanoğlu was born in exile, receiving Turkish citizenship in the mid-1990s. “As a person who was born in Syria and lived there for a long time, I believe Turkey has an increasing value for the Middle Eastern countries,” he said, adding that Turkey is being seen as a role model for these countries.

“Erdoğan has had a big role in this success, I was in Egypt before the elections and people were monitoring Turkey’s elections process with much interest,” he said.

The Ottoman dynasty was ordered into exile with a law passed by the Turkish Parliament on March 3, 1924. While their assets were seized, the members of the imperial family were given 2,000 pounds sterling each and special “one-way passports” that could not be used to enter the country again. The first to go into exile was the last caliph, Abdülmecid, while the last to leave was Fatma Sultan, daughter of Sultan Murad V.