Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will once again be the candidate of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the next presidential elections in Turkey, party spokesperson Ömer Çelik said.
Speaking after a meeting of the AKP’s Central Executive Committee, Çelik said that all relevant party bodies have a “clear and determined stance” in favour of a new candidacy by the Turkish president.
Referring to statements by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli supporting Erdoğan’s candidacy, Çelik said the AKP received them “with gratitude,” noting that they confirm alignment within the ruling People’s Alliance.
Erdoğan is technically limited to two presidential terms under the new presidential system adopted in Turkey in 2018, so under normal rules he would not be eligible to run again after his 2023 re-election.
However, he could legally run for a third term if early elections are called by parliament during his current term.
The issue of Erdoğan’s potential new candidacy was raised again on June 15 by his adviser Mehmet Uçum, who argued that the path could be opened through a decision by the Turkish Grand National Assembly to hold early elections.
Such a decision would require a three-fifths majority, that is, the support of at least 360 out of the 600 members of parliament.
Source: CNA
