cumhurbakan

Cumhurbakan is a Turkish term that is not part of the official political lexicon. It is sometimes used in speculative, satirical, or comparative contexts to describe a hypothetical office that would combine elements of both the head of state and the head of government in a single position.

Etymology and usage: The word is formed from cumhur, meaning “people” or “republic,” and bakan, meaning “minister.” Literally, it could be rendered as “people’s minister” or “ruler of the republic.” However, it is not standard Turkish governmental terminology and does not correspond to a recognized constitutional office.

Official usage and modern context: In the Turkish political system, formal offices include cumhurbaşkanı (president) and, prior to 2018, başbakan (prime minister). The 2017 constitutional referendum established a presidential system that consolidates executive power in the presidency and abolished the office of prime minister. As a result, there is no current official role that matches the informal notion of a cumhurbakan. The term remains predominantly literary, theoretical, or used in non-official discourse rather than as a constitutional title.

In practice, the term may be invoked by scholars, commentators, or writers to discuss hypothetical arrangements, hybrid powers, or contrasts with other political systems. It is not used in formal constitutional texts or by government institutions in Turkey.

See also: cumhurbaşkanı, başbakan, devlet başkanı.