Turkish Premier Calls for Mubarak to Announce Transition Plan

Bloomberg, by Benjamin Harvey - Feb 2, 2011

President Hosni Mubarak should announce a “roadmap” for an interim administration to carry out a transition to democracy following protests throughout Egypt, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Mubarak’s leadership has so far failed to give the confidence necessary for “the beginning of a democratic environment,” Erdogan said today during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, according to Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news agency. “It’s necessary to announce a road map and a schedule. If this schedule is announced, those masses will be satisfied,” he said.

The opinions of political parties in Egypt have to be taken into account, said Erdogan, who didn’t specify whether he was including the Muslim Brotherhood, which was banned from seeking public office under Mubarak.

Mubarak announced late yesterday that he wouldn’t seek re- election in September, responding to more than a week of demonstrations demanding that he step down after 30 years in power.

“The people are waiting for a very different step from Mubarak,” Erdogan said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Benjamin Harvey in Ankara at bharvey11@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net.