Former President Gül’s nomination would be good: President Erdoğan

ANKARA

AA Photo

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that “it would be good and felicitous” if former President Abdullah Gül declares his candidacy to run in the upcoming general elections scheduled for June 7.

“The issue of candidacy is at his own discretion,” Erdoğan told reporters on March 6, adding that he had talked with Gül last week over his father’s illness, wishing him a speedy recovery.

Gül had earlier hinted that he would make a comeback to the political “movement that he had helped launch.”

Rumors of his return to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) ahead of the June elections were rejected most recently in February by AKP spokesperson Beşir Atalay.

It is “too early” for former President Gül to be nominated as a parliamentary candidate in the June elections, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had also said in February.

“I met with him [Gül] last week. Our president is also talking with him, but there has not been such a request. It is too early for the issue to be discussed right now. There has not been any request or suggestion about it,” Davutoğlu said.