Turkish PM seen bowing out of presidential race

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Ankara, Apr 24: Tayyip Erdogan is likely to bow to pressure and stay on as Prime Minister of Turkey rather than seek the presidency in next month's election, party sources and newspapers said today.

Erdogan has come under intense pressure from the secular establishment, which includes army generals and judges, to pick a consensus candidate to run in the election. Parliament, where his ruling AK Party has a big majority, elects the president.

Erdogan is accused of seeking to undermine the republic's separation of state and religion, a charge he strongly denies.

Senior members of the AK Party, which has roots in political Islam, have voiced concern, the party would lose votes in November general election if Erdogan, Turkey's most charismatic politician, became president and quit party politics.

Erdogan has never said he would run but had strongly hinted at the possibility.

Leading Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, quoting unnamed sources close to the Prime Minister, said Erdogan was expected not to run for the seven-year post and would most likely make his announcement today.

AK Party sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters yesterday the frontrunner to be the party's candidate was Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul, a low-profile official who has worked closely with the army generals.

But the sources said Erdogan may change his mind at the last minute. Several others have been mooted by local media in recent days, including State Minister Besir Atalay. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is also in the running, sources said.

Turkish financial markets have rallied in recent days, boosted by expectations that Erdogan will not run for president, thus easing the standoff between secularists and the AK Party.

Earlier this month, more than 350,000 people took to the streets of Ankara to protest against a possible Erdogan presidency.

The armed forces chief General Yasar Buyukanit and outgoing president Ahmet Necdet Sezer have warned of threats posed to the republic in comments seen as veiled warnings to Erdogan.

Though the Prime Minister has most power under Turkey's parliamentary democracy, the President has powers to veto laws once and appoint many officials, including top judges.

April 25 is the deadline for registration of candidates.

Reuters>

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