Turkish Foreign Minister Confirms Presidential Bid
14 August 2007
Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul - once again nominated for president by the ruling Justice and Development Party - has publicly confirmed his candidacy and is seeking support from opposition leaders.
Gul Tuesday promised to uphold and strengthen the country's secular principles if elected. Secular politicians and the military had opposed Gul's nomination because of his Islamist past.
Gul met earlier Tuesday with leaders of the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP. Gul did not say whether the MHP assured him of support.
Members of the ruling AKP renominated Gul to be their presidential candidate Monday, three months after an opposition boycott forced him to withdraw his nomination.
Some opposition leaders have told Turkish media they do not expect another boycott.
The parliament begins the first of several rounds of voting for president Monday.
The opposition to Gul's candidacy prompted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call early parliamentary elections last month. The ruling party won a majority in those elections.
But the AKP does not have the two thirds majority needed to approve a presidential candidate on its own during the first two rounds of voting.
The president can be elected by a simple majority in the third round of voting, but only if two thirds of parliament members are present - giving opposition factions the ability to derail a nomination through a boycott.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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